Once the choice to go back to college has been made, the next step for many of us will probably be finding a way to pay for it. In this time of uncertain finances and a troubled economy paying for college may at first seem an impossible task. Many of us in America are engaged in a daily struggle just to make ends meet. We struggle to afford groceries and gas for our cars. The thousands of dollars needed for yearly tuition can be an intimidating expense and hard to justify. I assure you though that if you are serious about continuing your education and pursuing your dreams, there are numerous ways to fund your education. The Federal Government should be your first stop on the road to your education. There are several different programs available from grants which never have to be paid back, to low interest loans. Additionally in the private sector there are literally thousands of scholarships available to students. Finally most states and institutions themselves offer a wide array of scholarships and loan programs to incoming freshmen.

Step One, Pick a School

Before you apply for funds it is important that you decide on a school. Though you can begin the process before making a final decision on where you will attend, the government, and most lenders and scholarship granters will not release funds to you, but to the school you will attend. Additionally when applying for a grant or loan from the Fed you will need to submit the school's ID code where you plan to begin classes. So your first step should be choosing a college to attend. Once you begin your admissions process the counselors there will gladly assist you in obtaining funds and talk you through the process. These professionals are privy to many inside secrets and tricks which can enable you to procure funds you may never have found on your own. The truth is, there are millions of dollars available to those seeking a higher education, but few programs are openly advertised or flaunted.

I will publish another article to go into more detail about choosing a school, and deciding between online and on-site schools. For now we will assume you have chosen a school and began the admissions and application process. I have applied to a state College with an open enrollment policy, meaning I do not need ACT/SAT scores to qualify for attendance. However I will be taking the COMPASS test to assess where I will need to begin with my basic courses such as English, Math, and Science. I have requested information from this school and received my application packet which contains this schools federal ID number. Now that I have that number I will go online to the Governments website and begin the process.

FAFSA, and your PIN Number

The first thing I will do is visit www.pin.ed.gov. Here I will set up my account and apply for a secure PIN, to access my loan, and grant information. This step should be done as soon as possible, and can be completed before submitting an application to the school of your choice. On this site you will receive simple instructions on continuing to the Free Application For Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA for short. From here you will be taken through the process step by step. The requirements and regulations for receiving Federal aid will be clearly explained. Take the time to read through the articles as you will actually be tested to insure that you understand the conditions of this aid and their implications to you as a recipient or borrower. Among other things you will be expected to maintain a minimum level of attendance, grades, and performance.There are several grant and Loan options to consider they are listed below.

• Pell Grants- These are available to students seeking their first Bachelor's degree and pay up to $5,350.00 per year and can be used in addition to other grants.
• FSEOG- This Grant is available to those in extreme financial need and can be received in addition to Pell Grants. They are awarded on a first come first serve basis every year and pay up to $4000.00 a year.
• ACG- This grant is available to first and second year students who have completed a strenuous academic study, such as honors programs. They reward $750.00 for first years, and $1300.00 for second years and can be used in addition with other grants.
• TEACH Grant- This recent program is an incentive to those students seeking teaching degrees. If students are willing to commit to a period of teaching in low income areas in high need subjects they can receive up to $4000.00 per year towards tuition.
• Stafford and Perkins Loans- These programs are loans and must be paid back. Most often they are set up on a ten year payment schedule with low interest. Payments generally do not begin until after graduation. On a subsidized Stafford Loan the Government assumes interest payment while the student is in school. There are no credit checks or requirements for these loans. Generally they are awarded to those in financial need. You must not have defaulted on a previous student loan though.

Persistence Pays Off

Beyond those options available from the government, many colleges and institutions operate loan programs themselves. Contact your schools financial assistance office for details. In addition there are many private organizations offering scholarships to students ranging from a couple hundred dollars to fifty thousand dollars. I will include a list of links to these sites below where you can search for scholarship programs across the country.

Veterans and dependents are also eligible for financial assistance, as are those with disabilities. You will find if you are willing to look, a wide range of avenues to pay for school. Do not be discouraged initially if you are not pulling in a high income. Many schools are more then willing to help you find the means to attend college and achieve the degree you desire. Even the most prestigious graduate schools are within your reach if you are committed and persistent in you efforts.