5 Clever Untraditional Ways to Pay for College (That You Can Actually Do)

by | Feb 18, 2015 | Instate Tuition Tips, Paying for college

Sure, we all know the usual cookie-cutter ways to help lessen the cost of ever-increasing college tuition: you can cross your fingers for scholarships and pray for favorable loans and grants through FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). But securing a meaningful scholarship is a highly competitive affair among the cream of the crop with the highest SAT/ACT scores.  And the best grants and free money?  That’s reserved primarily for those with the most extraordinary circumstances. What about the rest of us?  Let’s think outside the box… You don’t need to be a valedictorian to afford college.  These five untraditional ways to pay for college help level the playing the field and might just help you avoid a mountain of debt.   1) RESIDENCY It’s possible to earn in-state tuition in any state; find out if it’s viable for you. This is first at bat, because (if attending an out-of-state college) you can actually combine it with a few of the other non-traditional ways to pay for college that follow below, leading to an even bigger return on investment for your time. For example, you can work toward getting in-state residency while completing a gap-year, then not only do you save money during the gap time, but you also can begin or return to college with residency and in-state tuition. Win-win! Most people do not realize that if you qualify as a resident of the state in the eyes of a university, then you are entitled to in-state resident tuition, averaging over $52,000 in total cost difference over the course of a four-year college education (reference). Do you really love the state and would you be moving there with or without the...