How to Pay for College
Getting money for college through financial aid, scholarships, and other resources seems daunting. Use the path below and explore the articles and videos to keep you on track and confident.
Before Your Senior Year: Explore Financial Aid Options
FAFSA? Financial Aid? Money for College? What does it all mean? It’s never too early to start your research. Start here to explore your options and feel prepared when it's time for financing college.
- Financial Aid Checklist
- What are Federal Aid Programs?
- Financial Aid FAQs
- Federal Student Loans
- Another way to help with college costs before senior year? Taking Dual Enrollment Classes at a local college or online.
- Begin researching scholarships to set your goals for your ACT score.
Financial Aid FAQs
The financial aid process including timelines, major action points, and how to find a wealth of information from the Federal Student Aid website.
Fall of Senior Year: Understand College Costs and Financial Aid
The FAFSA generally opens on October 1 every year*. Use the tools below to determine what each of your colleges will cost, gather what you need before sitting down to fill out the FAFSA, and layout 5 easy steps to follow to meet financial aid deadlines.
*Note: Due to recent changes, the FAFSA opening date for the 2025-26 aid year will be December 1, 2024. To stay aware of all dates and deadlines, visit studentaid.gov.
Free Financial Aid Resources
Tap into success with the library of free tools and resources to help you understand how to pay for college.
Spring of Senior Year: Scholarship Deadlines and Financial Aid
Things are happening quickly now! Many scholarship deadlines are in February or March so have your ACT score ready before then. Financial aid packages will also begin arriving with acceptance letters – be your own champion and understand what the package is offering.
- Understanding Your Financial Aid Package
- How to Get Scholarships with an ACT Score
- Guide to Federal Work Study
How to Score Scholarships
Learn how to not leave money on the table when it comes to paying for college.
Graduation, Summer, Going to College: Ways to Make College More Affordable
You've accepted your financial aid award, but the costs are still high. Expand your scholarship search and explore other ways to make college affordable.
Learn how to pay for college with this free eBook—Financial Aid: Paying for College and University.
Featuring simple explanations, checklists, and a cost comparison worksheet, we’ll walk you through the process of finding financial aid, applying for assistance, and choosing the college that best fits your goals and your budget. The right tools and resources can make paying for college much simpler.
This eBook will lead you through:
- The basics of financial aid
- Where to find help paying for college
- How to apply for financial assistance
- Estimating and comparing the costs of your college choices
- Ways to reduce and pay for the costs financial aid doesn’t cover
