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How to Pay for Community College
By
Cait Williams
Cait Williams is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cait recently graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Journalism and Strategic Communications. During her time at OU, was active in the outdoor recreation community.
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Annie has spent the past 18+ years educating students about college admissions opportunities and coaching them through building a financial aid package. She has worked in college access and college admissions for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission/Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, Middle Tennessee State University, and Austin Peay State University.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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If you’ve ever thought about going back to school, finances are most certainly something you’ve thought about. Maybe you have questions, such as “How does one go about paying for college? Is community college really more affordable?” In this article, we’ll go over some basic information about community college and the various ways you can pay for it!
Choosing community college
There are lots of reasons you might be interested in choosing a community college. Maybe you’re going back to school or maybe you’re a new high school grad who just needs a place to start. Whatever your reason, community college is always a great first step to earn an associate degree, a certificate, or just earn some credits to transfer to another school! So let’s jump into how you can pay for community college!
FAFSA
The FAFSA is an important part of paying for higher education, including community college. This application helps colleges assess your level of financial need, so that they can offer you resources like grants and loans.
First, what is the FAFSA?
“FAFSA” stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Typically, students will complete this form before attending college and throughout their college career. Your application determines if you are eligible for student financial aid from the US government.
How do I file FAFSA?
To begin filing your FAFSA application you can visit their website! For a step by step guide about how to answer the questions on the application and what supporting documents are needed, check out our article on how to complete this year’s FAFSA.
Scholarships
Scholarships may feel more like a distant word to you than an actual way to pay for school. They sound great, but where do you start? We’d recommend you start with a few of the lists we’ve provided below, as well as taking some time to explore other lists on our site, as scholarships cover an extensive range of topics!
- Top community college scholarships
- Top scholarships for high school seniors
- Top easy scholarships to apply to
It’s important to note that scholarships can take time to apply to. They may require you to submit essays, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and possibly more. However, scholarships are also one of the best ways to fund your education because they don’t have to be paid back!
Payment plans
Payment plans vary from school to school, but can usually be found at most community colleges. Paying tuition in one lump sum isn’t always feasible, and schools know that. They don’t want tuition to be the barrier that keeps someone from receiving an education. Ask the community college you plan to attend about what their payment plan options look like!
State aid for community college students
Depending on what state you live in, you may be eligible for aid from the state. Just like aid from the federal government, some states have similar financial reserves that they award to students. In California, many community colleges even offer free tuition!
How you access this aid varies by state. Some state aid can be applied for through the FAFSA application, while others need to be applied for separately. You can use this database to research contact information for your local department of education.
Don’t miss: How to get in-state tuition as an out-of-state student
Tuition free promise programs
Tuition free programs are also sometimes called “promise programs.” A promise program aims to provide 100% college tuition (usually for recent high school graduates). Requirements for these programs vary by community college, but may have residency or age requirements. It’s worth talking to a financial aid counselor to see if your community college offers a tuition-free program and if so, learning what steps you’ll need to take to qualify.
Keep in mind that tuition-free doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay anything to attend community college. Students may still have to pay for certain fees and textbooks, so make sure you apply for all scholarships you are eligible for to maximize covering expenses.
Closing thoughts
Paying for college is stressful, but we hope some of the things we mentioned above will help. Remember to not let the cost scare you away as an education is something you’ll have forever. Good luck, and be sure to check back with any other questions. While on your educational journey, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for while you are eligible!
Key Takeaways
Frequently asked questions about how to pay for community college
Do you have to live in a community to go to that community college?
Is community college free?
Does community college accept everyone?
Is community college easy?
