Getting those college acceptance letters can be an exciting time for Christian teens. However, soon enough that excitement wears off when you realize you will have to find money to pay for college. Here are six places Christian teens can look to find money to pay for their college education:
1. Churches
Check around with your local churches. They may offer grants and scholarships. Your church may not offer a specific scholarship, but church members may be willing to help fund a portion of your college education.
2. Parents
Talk to your parents about what they have done to put aside money for your education. Parents often create special accounts and invest in order to fun portions of your education.
Christian teens are eligible for a number of scholarships and grants. Millions of dollars in scholarships are not used each year, because students are not aware that the scholarships even exist. If your parents are not able to finance your entire college cost, scholarships and grants are a great place to find money for college that you do not need to pay back.
4. The Government
Another place Christian teens can find money for college is the government. There are government supported loans and grants that many college students opt to use to pay for their college costs. Grants are the better option, because they do not need to be payed back, but federal loans should not be discounted if scholarships and grants do not cover all costs. Every U.S. student, no matter how much contribution they receive from their parents, should put in a FAFSA application.
5. Your College
Most likely your college or university will require you to fill out a
FAFSA application. Yet, the financial aid office will also have university specific scholarships and grants for which you may be eligible. You should check with your college to see what options you may have. Also, some colleges offer work-study programs where Christian teens can work on campus to help offset some higher education cost
6. Private Lenders
Not every Christian teen will be eligible for government-backed loans and grants, and those same students may not receive as many scholarships they need. Another option for those students could be private loans. Several private lenders are now offering loans to students or their parents in order to help pay for a college education. However, these loans often come with higher interest rates and less flexible repayment options, so other options should be explored first.
