For our mature students remaining in the UK over the summer, especially our Postgraduate learners who may have the additional issue of juggling their studies whilst school is out, there are some great options to keep the kids engaged and perhaps give you some space to focus.
Estime had hoped to attend Smith College, but says the school costs too much, at more than $45,000 a year for tuition and fees. The liberal arts major enrolled in Holyoke Community College last fall and plans to transfer to nearby Smith or the University of Massachusetts–Amherst for her junior year, depending on the financial aid award. Estime, in the meantime, has managed to keep her debt under $2,000, paying for college with private scholarships, Pell grants and a small loan.
But those are just three ways to pay for community college. Here are some ways to pay for community college other than working part or full time.
Pell grants: Pell grants function like vouchers for students to pay for higher education-related expenses, covering items such as books, transportation or tuition. Awards are based on financial need to students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree. More than two-thirds of Pell grants go to families making less than $50,000, according to Columbia University’s Community College Research Center at Teachers College. These awards are also contingent on the student’s household size.
