How do I pay for college without my parents’ help?
As long as you are a dependent student, their income and assets will determine your eligibility for federal and need based aid. If they refuse to pay (which happens more than you think) you need to target schools where you can get merit aid or work and start at community college
You need to ask your parents what, if anything, they will help with. Can you continue to live at home if you are workings and schooling? Will their be rent or any charges for food and utility. Do you have a car or access to one? Will they keep you on insurance? Will they at least help you fill out the Fafsa so that you can be eligible for student loans? It also might be worth filling out just in case their income makes you eligible for aid or a state grant.
If they will cover your room and board by your staying at home, then you’ve got something. Check out the local community colleges and public universities your could commute to. Get a job and start saving. You can take out federal student loans (if parents will give you Fafsa info) to help cover costs but you will inevitably need to work as well.
If you are an excellent student, you can try for some merit scholarships but you’d pretty much need a full ride and those are very hard to come by.
Tell us more…are you low income?
Are you a low income family?
Do you have the stats to get accepted somewhere where merit aid is possible that would cover the difference.
Some students go to a community college first and then transfer to a four year to complete their bachelors.
Can you commute to college from your parent home?