Scholarships and Grants
Scholarships and grants are funds that generally don’t need to be paid back. There also are certain loan programs that, after graduation, can be paid back through service in particular fields such as education, nursing, government and allied health. When seeking financial aid, research these types of funds first.
Loans
Few families are able to cover the cost of college out of pocket. Most meet college expenses using a combination of scholarships, grants, savings, current earnings, and loans. Education loans, unlike scholarships and grants, need to be repaid, with interest. Take care when choosing what kind of education loans you take out and never borrow more than you really need.
Work-Study and Cooperative Education
Federal or college work-study programs offering part-time jobs may be available to help college students with financial need pay for college. Not only do these programs help financially, they may offer experience related to a student’s major, involve community service, and be an on-campus job.
Paid internships in your chosen field also may be available through Cooperative Education programs, helping you earn money and get work experience at the same time.
Other Ways to Pay for College
The more you can pay for college in current income or from savings, the less you have to borrow. If you have a chance to open an account specifically for college, the more you put away the easier it will be to help with future college expenses. If you open an account in the NC 529 Plan, your account earnings are tax-free when used for qualified higher education expenses at virtually any college, anywhere in the country.
Links
North Carolina Colleges and Costs
Financial Aid Search Engine
Financial Aid Terms Glossary
Funding Your Education
Be sure to create your CFNC.org User Profile to have these, and all to the tools and resources offered by CFNC, available at your fingertips, all of the time, year after year.