Here are some of the different ways to earn a college degree without getting into debt:
Full Ride/Grades – have your entire college bill paid for by the school, as a result of your stellar academic and extracurricular performance in high school
SAT/ACT – achieving scores in the top 10% can open doors to significant savings, if not a majority of your tuition paid for by the school
CLEP exam credits – test out of college classes, and save a significant amount of money and time, by studying for and passing exams while in high school
AP exam credits – skip introductory college classes by taking courses in, studying for and passing advanced placement exams in high school
Scholarships – find and win money from various organizations
Financial Aid (FAFSA) – apply for federal funds, some of which you won’t have to pay back (grants)
Extracurricular Activities – take an interest and be involved in several after-school activities
Academic Scholarship – schools pay for part or all of your tuition, provided you maintain a certain GPA
Athletic Scholarship – schools pay for part or all of your tuition in exchange for you to play on one of their sports teams
Work-study programs – schools have dedicated internal/campus jobs that “pay” you by reducing your tuition bill
Side jobs – work a part-time job to help pay your way through school
Military Service – join the military and have your full tuition paid for by the GI Bill
Dual Enrollment Courses – take college classes while still in high school
Community College – take the same/similar course at a community college (especially during summer) & transfer credits over to the 4-yr university
Tuition & Fees Deduction and Tax Credits – federal income tax deductions and credits available for student tuition costs
529 Plan – a college savings account that parents can open for their kids
Tuition Reimbursement – have your employer pay for your tuition
School fee structure – look for ways to cut costs by investigating how the school charges you
Textbooks – find cheaper college textbooks
Summer job – work a summer job to save up and pay for the fall and/or spring semesters
Co-Ops – select co-ops over internships