<p>I thought this might be a good thread to start -- one of those threads that are easy to refer back to when this question is asked (which it is -- about a zillion times each year).</p>
<p>My idea is that everyone could post specific information about ways to afford college without borrowing a ton of money. The idea would not just be the usual "get a summer job" or " be an RA", but would include specific information and links. </p>
<p>For example -- if I were to write the post on getting a summer job, I would include information on the best and highest paying summer jobs (including links), ways to work 2 summer jobs, the effect of summer income on your EFC and the income allowance protection, how to save that money without effecting your EFC -- and how much savings will effect your EFC. </p>
<p>There are actually quite a few ways to afford college without borrowing $200,000 -- but many times kids don't know about the options (or aren't willing to consider them until the very end).</p>
<p>Just a few topics that would be good to include in this thread: Americorps volunteering, working a summer job, work-study, Resident Assistant job, buying used books, applying for scholarships, applying to colleges that meet full need, applying to colleges that offer merit aid, co-op colleges/programs, colleges for low-income students, colleges with free tuition, tuition reimbursement by employer programs, ROTC scholarships, enlisting, applying to fafsa only schools, attending community college, utilizing dual-enrollment/AP/IB credits to graduate a year earlier -- I am sure there are more possibilities and this information could really come in handy for some students (particularly those who are willing to consider options)</p>
<p>Check out colleges offering free tuition in exchange for working a campus job. Called “work colleges”, most of these schools are not nearly as selective as the ivies (Deep Springs is the exception) and other top schools with great financial aid – and might be a good option for those without the stats for the ivies, or as a safety. Depending on your major, these might be a better option than a community college or small state college. At some of these work colleges, admission is restricted to “low-income” students – defined by your household income and number in household.</p>
<p>[Work</a> college - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_college]Work”>Work college - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>[Berea</a> College](<a href=“http://www.berea.edu/]Berea”>http://www.berea.edu/) low-income students only, accepts international students
[Berea</a> College - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berea_College]Berea”>Berea College - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>[Alice</a> Lloyd College](<a href=“http://www.alc.edu/]Alice”>http://www.alc.edu/) free tuition for students in a 108 county area & most pell grant eligible students</p>
<p>[Blackburn</a> College](<a href=“http://www.blackburn.edu/]Blackburn”>http://www.blackburn.edu/) low-cost, but not free</p>
<p>[College</a> of the Ozarks, Hard Work U.](<a href=“http://www.cofo.edu/cost.asp?page=2]College”>http://www.cofo.edu/cost.asp?page=2) primarily for low-income students, but does accept students who are not low income
[College</a> of the Ozarks - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_the_Ozarks]College”>College of the Ozarks - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>[Deep</a> Springs College](<a href=“http://www.deepsprings.edu/]Deep”>http://www.deepsprings.edu/) men only, highly selective (tougher to get into than Harvard) and only a 2 year program – but completely free. very unique and not for everyone
[Deep</a> Springs College - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Springs_College]Deep”>Deep Springs College - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>[Ecclesia</a> College Cost of Attendance Breakdown](<a href=“http://www.ecollege.edu/admissions/cost.html]Ecclesia”>http://www.ecollege.edu/admissions/cost.html) not free – but a low-cost option</p>
<p>[Sterling</a> College](<a href=“http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/]Sterling”>http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/) not free – but a low cost option
[Sterling</a> College (Vermont) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_College_(Vermont)]Sterling”>Sterling College (Vermont) - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>[Warren</a> Wilson College Financial Aid and Costs](<a href=“http://www.warren-wilson.edu/admission/financial_aid/]Warren”>Tuition & Financial Aid - Warren Wilson College) not free, but low-cost with excellent scholarship opportunities (including scholarships for service and work skills), provides FA for international students
[Warren</a> Wilson College - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Wilson_College]Warren”>Warren Wilson College - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>While these may not be the schools you originally had in mind, they may be an excellent alternative to a local community college – or living at home and commuting to the local state college. Several of these colleges rank very well regionally in USN&WR, sending many kids onto professional and graduate school.</p>
<p>This is a good article about avoiding college debt:</p>
<p>[Ten</a> Ways Anyone Can Go to College With Zero Student Loans | Punny Money](<a href=“NameBright - Domain Expired”>NameBright - Domain Expired)</p>
<p>Go to an inexpensive college. Either one where you get in-state tuition or one like these seven, which have cheap room and board and cheap tuition whether you are in state or out of state.
Univ. of Arkansas–Monticello<br>
Oklahoma Panhandle State Univ.<br>
Eastern Oregon University<br>
Southeastern Oklahoma State U.<br>
Northern State University (SD)
Southwest MN State Univ (MN)
Bemidji State University (MN)</p>
<p>and of course starting out with two years of community college is a great way to save money, especially if you can live at home.</p>