How to Pay for School
At faith-based schools, paying for college is a concern similar to those shared by students everywhere. And the answers to those questions are also similar. Here are some pointers:
- Federal financial aid in the form of grants or loans can be available for those who qualify. You'll need to fill out and file a FAFSA form to determine the level of assistance.
- Faith-based schools often specialize in academic counseling and tuition assistance for veterans or active and reserve members of military service and their families. This is especially true with recent revisions to the G.I. bill. Many of those schools designate themselves as "yellow ribbon schools."
- Scholarships:
- Individual schools usually offer scholarships with criteria to suit multiple student populations.
- Check for national scholarships. Lists are published annually—check at the library. Listings can also be found on websites, such as:
- There are scholarships that apply to students in particular religions and specifically for those planning to attend faith-based schools. These sites list some of those scholarships:
- http://www.christiancolleges.com/financial-aid/scholarships-for-christian-universities-bible-colleges/
- http://oedb.org/scholarship/christian
- http://www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/christian-students.htm
- http://www.christianconnector.com/drawing-rules.cfm
- http://www.nextstudent.com/directory-of-scholarships/religion/religious-scholarships.aspx (this site lists scholarships by religion and/or denomination)
- Your place of worship may offer a scholarship for members going to college. Ask the leadership about that.
- Campus jobs are always an option. Many schools offer students an opportunity to work on campus in one of two formats:
- Paying job – the student will receive payment, usually hourly wages, for work done. That money can be used to pay for school or for anything else the student and their family chooses.
- Work study – the student works on campus and the money they earn goes directly to college expenses
- Suggestions on how to search for and apply for scholarships: http://www.lifeway.com/
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