Here are some tips to help you plan and pay for college from the California Student Aid Commission.
- Check out Cal Grants and other student aid for Californians.
- Look into the California Chafee Grant, if you are or were in foster care.
- Check out More Ways to Pay for College Fact Sheet.
- Learn more about federal financial aid, including federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, National SMART Grants and federal Academic Competitiveness Grants.
- Explore private scholarships. Ask your school about scholarships offered by organizations or businesses in your community and search the free scholarship Web sites, starting with FastWeb and the College Board Scholarship Search Service.
- Look into federal loans for students and parents first, if you need to borrow. The low interest rate is fixed for the life of the loans and you’ll have at least 10 years to repay, along with other benefits. Keep in mind that accepting a loan means accepting the responsibility for repaying the money you borrow.
- Learn more about financial aid programs offered by colleges.
- Consider becoming a volunteer in return for money for college. Learn more about AmeriCorps, California Volunteers and the California Conservation Corps.
- Look into taking Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in high school and then take the exams to earn college credit.
- Learn more about the education benefits offered by the military or for veterans.
- Consider starting at a California Community College. Check to see if you qualify for a fee waiver.
- Explore the federal tax breaks for education.
- Check out the state loan assumption benefits for teachers and nurses. Also, learn more about the federal loan assumption benefits for teachers.
- Browse the Fund Your Future publications.
- Learn more about planning for college.
