Paying For It

• Look into federal financial assistance. Apply for the U.S. Department of Education’s federal student aid programs, the largest source of student aid in America. Getting financial aid starts with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Make a budget and stick to it.You will be amazed at how much further your money goes when you have a budget.
• Avoid credit cards. As attractive as they might seem, the interest on credit cards can put you in a very deep financial hole.
• Buy used books. Textbooks tend to be expensive. Save money by buying used textbooks online or in the school bookstore.
• Leave your car at home. With gas, insurance, parking, and repairs, cars cost money. Walk, use public transportation and/or ride a bike.
• Watch the ATM fees. ATM fees. can add up quickly, so choose a bank with free ATMs near your school.

You should never have to pay for this information. You can get free information from the following:

• The Federal Student Aid Information Center. Call 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243); TTY users can call 1-800-730-8913
• The official FAFSA site: Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Your state higher education agency
• A college or career school financial aid office
• Your high school counselor
• Your library’s reference section
• Foundations and religious, community or ethnicity-based organizations
• Your employer or your parents’ employer

Avoid scams by protecting your identity as you go through the financial aid process.
To reduce risk:

• After completing your FAFSA online, exit the application and close the browser.
• Don’t tell ANYONE your Federal Student Aid PIN (even the person helping you)
• Keep track of your financial aid documents and the amounts you applied for and received.
• Never give personal information over the phone or Internet unless you made the contact.
• Shred receipts and documents with personal information when you are done with them.
• Immediately report lost or stolen identification to the issuer and to the police, if appropriate.

Report fraud and identity theft. If you suspect that your student information has been stolen, contact one of these resources immediately:

• U.S. Department of Education, 1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733)
• Federal Trade Commission, 1-800-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338)

Private loans can be useful, but watch out for bad deals. Interest rates and repayment terms can be higher than government loans. Use all federal student loan options first. Investigate the private loan organization, check with the Better Business Bureau, get references and read the fine print.