Paying for College

Check with your HR department or employee handbook for a tuition assistance or education benefits policy, including any caps, required grades, or fields of study. If you're job hunting, it's reasonable to ask about these benefits during the interview process, since they can meaningfully offset future or existing education costs.

A common approach is to apply for free money first — grants and scholarships — then consider work-study or part-time earnings and any savings, and treat loans as the option that fills whatever gap remains. Filling out the FAFSA early each year helps make sure you're not missing free aid you'd otherwise qualify for.

Both are aid you generally don't have to repay, but scholarships are usually awarded based on merit — academics, athletics, artistic talent, or a specific background — while grants are more often awarded based on financial need, like the federal Pell Grant. Some awards blend both criteria, so the labels aren't always strict.

It can, especially if summer courses are cheaper per credit or help you graduate a semester early, avoiding an extra term of tuition and housing. It's worth comparing the summer tuition and lost work income against the savings from finishing sooner before deciding.