Sallie Mae

 
 
  Identify Criteria
 
  •  Community Colleges
    - Benefits
    - Admission Requirements
    - Choosing a School
  - Ways to Pay
      Applying for Loans
    - Transfer Students
  •  Colleges & Universities
  •  Historically Black Colleges
  •  Graduate Schools
  •  Continuing Education
  •  Specialty Programs
 
Searching for Schools

Viewing State Resources

Evaluating Affordability

Narrowing Choices

 
 
Community College

Ways to Pay

Grants | Work-Study | Scholarships | Student Loans | Other


As college tuition continues to rise, it's good to know that tuition and fees at community colleges average less than half those at four-year colleges. Community college is a good value and keeps education affordable for many students.

The funding on this page is a general overview. Contact a financial aid counselor at the community college of your choice, to learn about financial aid programs offered.

Here are some ideas for funding your education, including scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and loans.

Grants
Money that does not have to be repaid.

Grants are available through the federal government, state agencies, and colleges.

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • FSEOG
  • Institutional grants
  • State-sponsored grants

Work-Study
Money earned by working.

This federal program provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. Also known as FWS.

  • On-campus (work for the school)
  • Off-campus (private nonprofit organization or a public agency)

Scholarships
Money that does not have to be repaid.

Scholarships may be awarded based on any number of criteria, such as academics, achievements, hobbies, talents, affiliations with various groups, or career aspirations.

Sallie Mae's Free Scholarship Search provides access to over 2.9 million awards, worth over $16 billion. Awards are available for undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral candidates. Every time you log on or update your profile, a new search runs matching you with the latest scholarship opportunities.

Student Loans
Money borrowed that must be repaid.

Other Alternatives

These options can help reduce the financial burden of education and, in many instances, offer some unique experiences.

You'll also find suggestions on how to reduce college costs.

back to top ^

 
 

Related Topics

College Costs
Eligibility for Financial Aid
FAFSA
Tax Benefits
Tool: Monthly Budget Calculator


Find Free Money
Use Sallie Mae's Free Scholarship Search to locate funding for your education. Our database also contains awards just for community college students.


Community College Facts

Tuition and Fees
$2,191 average annual tuition at public community colleges

Source: American Association of Community Colleges


Notable Alumni
Individuals who got their start at community colleges:

Morgan Freeman
Actor
Jim Wright
Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives
Nolan Archibald
CEO, Black & Decker Corp
John Walsh
Host of America's Most Wanted, Fox Television

How much will the occupation you're considering pay?
Search for earnings, employment, job outlook, and more in the Occuptional Outlook Handbook.

    ©2000-2010 Sallie Mae, Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Press Room | Site Map
About College Answer

SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.