College Debt – how to avoid it, and how to get out of ... most college students are using loans to finance their college ... the debt level of recent ... is rising rapidly. On avera
College Debt – how to avoid it, and how to get out of it
Because most college students are using loans to finance their college education, the debt level of recent graduates is rising rapidly. On average, students graduate owing $12,000-$16,000 in student loans and another $2,000 in credit card debt. Is this the price you have to pay for higher education, or can you avoid college debt in the first place?
The secret to avoiding college debt is to plan wisely and take advantage of the many opportunities to reduce college costs before and during your college years.
Planning ahead
You can avoid college debt by making wise high school decisions:
Take advanced placement classes
Take all the advanced placement classes you can in high school--every AP exam you pass means one less class you need to take in college.
Keep your grades up
Scholarships can be competitive, and even the grades you make early in your high school years can mean the difference in winning or losing. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can save the hard work for your junior and senior years!
Stay involved
Scholarships also may depend on community and school involvement.
Search for scholarships and grants
Scholarships and grants are the best money source for college because it is money that doesn't have to be repaid. To find out about grants and scholarships, visit your high school career counselor and the Financial Aid Office of your intended college. You can also search the internet for scholarships and grants.
Investigate public service options
The United States Military, National Health Service Corps, and Americorps will give you money for your education in exchange for your signing up for a “tour of duty.” The time commitment ranges from 10-12 months to 8 years.
Living wisely
The chances to make wise decisions and avoid debt continue into your college years.
Start out in a community college
Most towns and cities have two-year community colleges where you can take your basic courses at less cost than at a four-year college or university. Just investigate to make sure your community college credits will transfer.
Take advantage of Work-Study programs
If you qualify for the federal work-study program, take advantage of it! You will have an on-campus job, possibly in your field of study.
Or work for the school
Many colleges give discounted or free tuition to employees and their family members. There are lots of non-teaching jobs on campus that you can apply for.
Live frugally
Live at home or get a roommate. Avoid expensive spring break trips. Buy used textbooks, and sell your books at the end of the semester.
I already have a loan. Now what?
If you have a federal student loan, it is possible to have your loan debt discharged (canceled) or reduced, under certain specific circumstances:
You die or become totally and permanently disabled
Your school closed before you could complete your program
You work in certain designated public school service professions (such as teaching in a low-income school)
You file for bankruptcy (only if the bankruptcy court rules that repayment would cause undue hardship.)
As you can see, there are many steps to avoiding or relieving college debt. To best manage your debt it is wise to implement a combination of the strategies listed above that work best for you.
This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we believe that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we're dedicated to
helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite you to learn more about how to avoid college debt at www.NextStudent.com .
How to Search for Scholarships
Finding scholarships for college or a major university is a lot like picking an actual college. It is not an easy process or something that just happens overnight, but rather, it takes hard work, dedication, and a lot of research to find the scholarship opportunities that are best for you. On the one hand, you are putting a lot of time, work, and effort into finding a scholarship. But just think about the thousands of dollars that you can save by obtaining a scholarship for college.
Parent Loans
If you are entering college soon, but have no idea how you are going to pay for anything from books to your actual tuition fees, chances are that you are going to be relying upon your parents in some way, shape, or form. For most first-time college undergraduates, college or university tuition is either paid through grants, because parents’ financial information allows the use of grants, scholarships, because of academic or athletic prowess, or loans, because students can not pay for college or a university outright.
No-Cost Student Loan Consolidation
A no-cost student loan consolidation – doesn’t that just sound too good to be true? Think about it. You have just accrued thousands of dollars in debt through student loans after 4 years of college, or possibly even more. Then, a company offers to take all of your loans off of your hands, put them into one central loan, and do it all for free! Well, while it might not be too good to be true, it all depends around your particular situation, which could make this a “free” process, or could still work out to the benefit of the consolidation company that you are working with throughout the process.
