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Lots of Money for College (No, Really!)

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College is more expensive than ever before, with many schools costing upwards of $200,000 for a four-year degree. What's a non-millionaire to do? How about find more money? Before you roll your eyes and continue sadly shaking your piggy bank, try these steps.

College is more expensive than ever before, with many schools costing upwards of $200,000 for a four-year degree. What's a non-millionaire to do?

How about find more money? Before you roll your eyes and continue sadly shaking your piggy bank, try these steps.

First and foremost, fill out your FAFSA. You can access the Free Application for Financial Aid online and submit it as early as January 1 for the following school year. Even if you think you won’t be eligible, it’s worth a try: The Office of Federal Student Aid distributes billions of dollars a year. Some of that might as well go to you.

Next, utilize the power of the internets to find scholarships. FastWeb.com is a huge online database of scholarships and student loans. They’ve got 1.5 million scholarships worth $3.4 billion listed on the site right now.

Do You Know What You're Worth?

Finally, don’t overlook these unusual scholarship programs:

  • Duck Brand Duct Tape Stuck at Prom Contest: Offers $5000 for the best prom outfit created out of duct tape.

     

  • Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest: $25,000 for making an awesome peanut butter sandwich.

     

  • The Kor Memorial Scholarship From the Klingon Language Institute: $500, plus nerd bragging rights, for students engaging in language study. Ahem: “Familiarity with Klingon or other constructed languages is not required, however creative and innovative applicants are preferred.”

     

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    From: Online Colleges Blog

  • Jen Hubley Luckwaldt
    Read more from Jen

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