7 Ways to Pay For College

Finding ways to finance your college education can be difficult.  You might have heard the old adage "Money does not grow trees."  For most people, this statement rings true, especially in a weak economy.  Here are some ways you can find ways to pay for your education and other college-related expenses.

1. Find and Apply for Scholarships
There hundreds upon hundreds of available scholarships out there that go unused.  The hardest part is finding these scholarships.  Fortunately, there are scholarship search engines that can locate scholarships for you.  The best ones I've encountered are scholarships.com, scholarshipsexperts.com, and brokescholar.com.  In addition, your school and community will generally offer both merit-based and financial need- based scholarships.  Look for scholarships in your field of study, your school, church, organizations, and workplace.

2. Become an R.A.
Although your responsibilities may increase, becoming a resident assistant in a dorm can get your room, board, and meals paid for.

3. Apply for Financial Aid
If you qualify, you can fill out FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid) every year at www.fafsa.ed.gov and receive grants from the federal government.

4. Save Money on Textbooks
Purchase used college textbooks at the bookstore or better yet, rent your college books to save money.  You can also buy your books online at Ebay or Amazon.com.  If you are really strapped for cash, you can ask your professor if you can use a previous edition of the textbook, which is usually cheaper.  Once you finish your courses, you can sell your textbooks back to the bookstore or on Amazon.

5. Get a Job or an Internship
Do some research to find out which internships and on-campus jobs pay the best.  Generally, you won't want to work more than 15 hours a week while you are attending school.

6. Blogging
You can blog for profit by putting advertisements on your site, joining affiliate programs, and countless other options.

7. Invest
If you have extra money after paying tuition and other expenses, check out a few investment options that will make you money to pay for college in the future.  Certificate of Deposits (CDs) are great options and generally pay higher interest rates than savings accounts.  Playing the stock market is a high-risk game, but it can reap high rewards as well.