If you aren't having luck getting any of these jobs or don't like them here is where to look for scholarships and the best websites to start!

If you want to make extra money I have an ultimate list of side hustles here and my favorite side hustle here.

​UPS will provide full and part time workers up to $5,250 per year. This total will max out at $25,000 over your lifetime and can begin as soon as you start work! Yes, this means you can work 12-15 hours a week as a package handler and get tuition assistance.

Home Depot offers part-time hourly employees up to $1,500 per year, full-time hourly employees up to $3,000 per year, and salaried employees up to $5,000 per year. Half of their reimbursement goes toward books and course fees, and the other half covers tuition-related fees.

Approved courses can help employees working toward an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral, or Technical degree. 

PUBLIX employees with at least six months of continued work and an average of 10 hours per week are eligible for tuition reimbursement. You can use the money for not only traditional degree programs, but also some individual courses and online programs. If you are enrolled in a four-year college or university you can get up to $3,200 annually, with a lifetime limit of $12,800 for the 15 undergraduate degree programs that qualify. Look into what qualifies as "other majors may be approved if related to an associates' current position or established career path."

If you take undergraduate courses at a two-year community college, technical program or individual course program you can get up to $1,700 annually, with a lifetime limit of $3,400.

WELLS FARGO offers several scholarships to children of employees, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 each. In addition, they offer their employees up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement annually, for eligible tuition expenses.

STARBUCKS employees who have worked for the company for at least 3 months, averaged 20 hours per week at any company-operated store and don't have a bachelor’s degree yet are eligible for The Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP). The plan offers all eligible U.S. employees the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University’s top-ranked online degree program. Employees with get full tuition coverage through graduation and have 80 online degree programs to choose from. Shout out to my undergraduate alma mater, ASU!

Bonus: If the employee happens to be a military member or veteran, Starbucks will offer the same SCAP benefit to a qualifying family member of their choice — aka send your child to college for free!

VERIZON offers full-time employees $13,250 a year towards a degree or certificate to help further their career with the company. If you work part-time you can get up to $8,000 a year. Your immediate family members also qualify for up to $2,500 a year, which is awesome!

BANK OF AMERICA offers employees who have been employed for six months and work a minimum of 20 hours a week up to $5,250 per calendar year for both undergraduate and graduate programs. They do have stipulations to how relevant the course is to your field. 

The tuition reimbursement program at Lowe’s is available to full-time employees who’ve worked with the company for at least one year. It'll cover a maximum of $2,500 a year towards tuition, lab fees, and books. You need to get a “C” or better to get reimbursed for coursework.

Glassdoor says any salesperson who works at a Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck, or Fiat dealership will be eligible for up to $7,000 per year for tuition and fees and up to $200 in textbooks. Children of employees are also eligible to apply for a company-sponsored scholarship.

Apple pays up to $5,250 a year of any employees' tuition.

You can get up to $12,000 in tuition reimbursement per year, as long as you get a B or higher in all your courses from Google.

After 90 days of employment, employees can enroll in online college classes through Live Better U–Guild Education program. Employees can take courses at any one of the following six participating universities: University of Florida, Brandman University, Bellevue University, Southern New Hampshire University, Purdue University Global, or Wilmington University for $1.00 a day.

Walmart's college program pays the colleges directly meaning you don't need to wait for reimbursement!

Resident Assistant - These jobs can be competitive and vary depending on the college but may provide free housing or tuition.

Graduate Degrees - Companies like JetBlue, Farmers, and  Fidelity offer aid for those who are trying to get a Master's.

Listed above are some EXCELLENT options that I wish were around, or I knew about, when I was in college. I would have been able to not only earn money but also got some tuition help as well. If you combined this with looking for scholarships you will be in a good situation! 

1. Search Online
This is probably the most obvious way to go about looking for scholarships and I'm one step ahead of you and here is a whole post about where to look online! 
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2. Talk to Community Organizations
There are community organizations in your area like Kiwanis, Rotary, and Elks Club that you can reach out to see if they offer any scholarships. If you attend church check to see if they have anything. 

Lastly, find out if your community participates in Dollars for Scholars. Dollars for Scholars is a nonprofit charity that organizes local community-based scholarship organizations. Most of these scholarships are awarded by companies to their employees or their employees’ children, but some are open to the general public.

3. Visit Your Guidance Counselor Or Financial Aid Office
If you are still in High School stop by and talk to your guidance counselor or visit your college’s financial aid office. These are professionals who know grants and scholarships inside and out. They might know about local scholarships and grants that might aren't listed on larger online databases and have less competition.

Counselors are typically the first to be notified when new scholarships and grants are available. They might also offer to help guide you through the application process, proofread any essays, and help you submit every piece of required information.

4. Talk To Your Employer
If you’re an adult and want to go back to school there’s a chance your employer offers tuition reimbursement. This is actually how my brother got his Master of Business Administration (MBA). Talk to your company’s Human Resources department to learn if there is a program like this and if you’re eligible.

If there is a program make sure to get the details upfront like what courses are eligible. Some companies only offer tuition reimbursement for classes or programs directly related to your current role, while others have no limitations on eligible courses.

You'll want to figure out how they provide reimbursement also, do they pay up front, or will you have to pay first and then get reimbursed?

You can also ask your HR department if they offer any employer-sponsored scholarships for children of employees.

The most important thing about looking for scholarships is just taking action. Make sure you are looking online, talking to employers, and community organizations. Don't make the mistake I did and not look hard enough.

If you are looking for additional resources here are some books that can help!

Luckily all these services are free which means if you are having to pay to search for scholarships it may be a scam or better options are out there. Applying for scholarships can be daunting and time consuming but coming from someone who thought I didn't want to spend the time I wish I had! 

 1. Do Well In High School
This is pretty obvious and may not be all that helpful if you are already in college or graduated. But, many schools will give scholarships based on your grades and extracurricular activities while in high school. Do the best you can in school and you may end up getting a scholarship for academics,  music, art, theater, or sports. 

This means you'll also want to prepare for the SAT or ACT to you get the highest score possible. Heck maybe even take it a few times if that helps. Don't be like me, thinking I was too good to study and only taking it once.

This may be my biggest regret when it comes to student loans. I could have studied harder in school and easily gotten some scholarship money. I even had the option of getting a full ride to any in-state university if I excelled on a state test. I  was a few point off but didn't study or never retook it. Don't be like me, try hard in school!

2. Earn College Credit In Cheaper Ways
There are three ways to earn college credit without having to pay the hefty credit fees associated with a big university.

1. Take Advanced Placement (AP) classes in High School
   Depending on the school you can take AP classes in subjects like chemistry, biology, foreign languages, computer science, environmental science, calculus, history, economics, psychology, English literature, art, music and more. If your high school offers AP courses, take as many as you qualify for and be sure to take the AP exam offered at the end of the year.
   
   Although the rules and requirements change between colleges, many offer students course credit if you get an AP test score of 4 or higher. This means you may get to skip out on things like introductory math, science, language, or writing courses.
   
   Before you do all that make sure the credit will count though by checking here. 
   
   
2. Dual Enrollment
   Some high schools allow you to take a dual enrollment class which gives you high school and college credit. I was able to do this and skipped taking an introductory English and Math class while in college. 
   
   
3. Take College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams
   This is basically an AP/IB exam for college students. You are able to take a test for about $85 to prove that you understand and know the course material whether you've taken the class or not. Look into what your college does but in many cases, colleges charge a flat tuition amount for up to 5 or 6 classes. If you take less than that, you’ll still pay the same amount.  Check with your advisor that the credits will transfer before signing up for any tests.

3. Earn Credit At Community College
The appeal of going to a big university, or where your friends are going, is real. But you can spend one or two years at community college, earn credits, save money, and then transfer to the big school.  This will allow you to figure out what you want to do after college at a way cheaper price point. 

About 20% of my total loan debt came from my undergraduate degree and the rest came from a car loan and graduate degree. Honestly, if I could go back I think I would have still gone to the big university and applied for different scholarships or done better in high school. Community college is a good option and should be considered. 

4. Fill Out FAFSA
The  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is just that – free. Everyone should fill out a FAFSA, even if you think your family’s income is too high for the need-based financial aid because there really is no downside. You can even apply before you make a decision on schools since that might help you choose. 
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Form Your Future, which is sponsored by the National College Access Network (NCAN), said more than $24 billion in financial aid goes unclaimed every year with a large chunk being from FAFSA.  Know the deadlines because each state is different. Just fill it out every year and see what happens.

A few days or weeks after you submit your FAFSA, you'll get a student aid report (SAR). Your SAR will tell you whether you qualify for a federal grant, like the Pell Grant, or if you qualify for a work-study or another federal aid program. It doesn’t tell you the actual amount of aid you qualify for since the school determines that. Since the funding each school gets varies the sooner you file your FAFSA the faster the schools can tell you which aid you qualify for. 

Grants found through FAFSA are often based on financial need and do not have to be paid back. 

5. Find Free Money
Getting money that doesn't need to be repaid or accrue interest is the dream for any college student. Scholarships and awards can be awarded for nearly anything, and there are billions of dollars out there waiting for students to apply for it. Some options will have specific requirements while others are open to every student.

Do you like horses? Video games? Volunteering? Yup, there are scholarships for that.

There is a lot of competition out there, so you’ll really need to be resourceful and creative when applying. Focus your search on scholarships to areas you’re skilled in. Or,  you can also see if any social, volunteer, or religious groups you’re associated with have scholarships to give out.

Here are some ideas of how to get that "free" money:

Scholarships

• You can start with a simple Google search,  visit your financial aid officer or your high school guidance counselor. Organizations like nonprofit volunteer clubs, religious organizations, and civic groups offer scholarships to outstanding students or students who meet their criteria. Check with your bank or credit union, your parents’ employers, and organizations dedicated to the field or industry you’re interested in studying. You don't need to have a perfect GPA, test scores or be low income to qualify for scholarships. 
  
  

Military-based funding

• Tuition assistance: Active military members can use $4,500 per year and is a great way to start or complete a degree that doesn't take away from your GI Bill.
•  GI Bill: This is given to military members who serve over 90 consecutive days and provides up to 36 months of         education benefits. This benefit can also be passed down to dependents.

Crowdfunding

• If you have family members or friends that want to help support your education, you can start a campaign to raise donations. You can do that with GoFundMe and/or IndieGoGo. You'll want to see if the platform takes a percentage out of the total donations raised. Donations are typically considered a “gift” and shouldn't not taxable but check about any tax obligations.

6. Work For An Employer That Covers Tuition
They estimate that 60% of employers offer some sort of tuition reimbursement and Starbucks is a great example of this.  It’s also becoming more and more common for companies to pay back some or all of their employees’ student loans. They may also pay for you to go back and get your Master's. 

Your college might have jobs on campus where your earnings go toward paying for tuition and other fees.  Other schools may have official work-study programs which may or may not be tied to a student’s field of study.  You can also check out the federal work-study program that helps students earn money to pay for school. 

While these are great option look to make sure it is worth your time. If you make minimum wage working for the school through one of these programs but can earn more elsewhere, do that.  You can also start a side hustle and here's a bunch of great ideas. 

7. 529 College Savings Plan
529 plans are often run by a qualified state or university. They offer tax advantages, such as no federal tax on earnings, and in some instances, state income tax deductions. The contribution limit for a 529 plan depends on the plan you choose, but it’s usually more than the $2,000 yearly limit for a Coverdell ESA.

Money you contribute to a 529 plan is meant to be used to cover the cost of tuition and other school-related expenses, such as supplies and equipment, books, and computer software.

8. Look Into Forgiveness Programs
If you have federal student loans you may qualify for a loan forgiveness program. That means you'll no longer have to pay your loans after a certain amount of time if you meet the requirements. Not every loan is eligible for forgiveness and may take years before you qualify.

Some jobs or careers offer student loan repayment or forgiveness so keep your eyes open for that. For more information about this click here. 

9. Accelerate Your Studies
I saved the worst idea for last. If you are enjoying college the last thing you want to do is graduate early. But, if you can stand the extra workload graduating as soon as possible is smart. You'll not only be taking out less in loans but start earning full time money faster.

You may need approval if you go crazy with the amount of credits you take but you should be able to cram in as many classes as you can handle. 

Disclaimer About Private Loans
This isn't a way to avoid student loans like the title states but is a good way to minimize it's impact.

The federal loan program allows you to borrow up to $5,500 from the federal direct subsidized loan program as an undergraduate and up to $20,500 from the unsubsidized direct loan program minus any subsidized amounts you receive for the same period, depending on your grade level and dependency status. For a Direct PLUS Loan, you can receive the maximum amount of the cost of college attendance, minus any other financial aid you receive. This amount is determined by the school.

Although you want to keep your borrowing low when you take out federal loans, their protection programs offers you the ability to defer payments if you lose your job or go back to school. They also have a variety of income-based repayment plans, making them preferable to private loans.

Private student loans don’t have such limits, which makes it easy to take out more than what you need. They also tend to have higher interest rates than federal loans and don’t always offer flexible repayment plans or the ability to defer your loans if you’re out of work or go back to school.

If you need to take them out it isn't the end of the world. I did for a small amount but it was also the first one I paid off since I wasn't able to defer it and had my dad as a co-signer. 

The general gist is to try and be smart before going to college by doing the best you can in high school. Get the best grade point average (GPA) and SAT/ACT scores you can. Try and get as many college credits as cheap as you can. While in college look for ways to earn "free" money and graduate as fast as possible. If you have the time start a side hustle. After college look for employers or programs to help with loan forgiveness. 

The moment I paid off my students loan was very anti-climatic as the lender didn't see it as quite the celebration I did but it was a great moment for me! 

If you think this is something you qualify for and want more information this link will take you to the official government site.

3.  Income Based Repayment
This is the first of four main income-drive repayment plans and allows you to cap your loan payment at a percentage of you monthly income, typically capped at 10% to 15%. Your loans will be fully forgiven after 20 or 25 years depending on your plan.

To be eligible, your payment must be less than what you would pay under the Standard Repayment with a 10-year repayment period. 

Things to consider

1. This may be best for someone with a lot of student loan debt and a lower paying income.
2. Under current tax law, this type of forgiveness would be taxed as income. Keep that in mind that you may have a larger tax bill later on. 

​​If you think this is something you qualify for and want more information this link will take you to the official government site.

4. Income Contingent Repayment
This is the second option for income driven repayment and also adjusts your monthly payment based of your income. You’ll either pay 20% of your discretionary income or what you’d pay on a fixed 12-year plan, whichever is less.

This plan may not lower your payments as much as others, it is the only income-driven plan available to borrowers with Parent PLUS loans. 

Things to consider

1. If you have a Parent Plus Loan, you can apply for ICR but you have to consolidate them first. 
2. After 25 years of on-time payments, you’ll get the rest of your loan balance forgiven
3. Under current tax law, this type of forgiveness would be taxed as income. Keep that in mind that you may have a larger tax bill later on. 

​​If you think this is something you qualify for and want more information this link will take you to the official government site.

5. Pay As You Earn
This is the third option for an income driven plan and is similar to Income-Based Repayment. The difference is you may be eligible for forgiveness after a certain period of time. 

The PAYE program caps your monthly payment at 10% of your income. After the borrowers make payments for 20 years, any remaining balance becomes eligible for forgiveness.

To be eligible, your payment must be less than what you would pay under the Standard Repayment with a 10-year repayment period. 

Things to consider

1. ​As with income based repayment, your forgiven balance might be treated as taxable income.

​​If you think this is something you qualify for and want more information this link will take you to the official government site.

6. Revised Pay As You Earn
This is the last income driven repayment option and works similarly to Pay As You Earn. Your payments are capped at 10% of your discretionary income. Undergraduate loans are forgiven after 20 years while Graduate school loans are forgiven after 25 years.

There is no income eligibility requirement and anyone with eligible loans can apply.

Things to consider

1. You could end up with a higher payment if your income begins to increase.

​​If you think this is something you qualify for and want more information this link will take you to the official government site.

When It Makes Sense to Refinance
Before we even look into whether you should refinance, if you are going to try and get student loan forgiveness know the guidelines of that program. I have a post about student loan forgiveness so you can check those out. 

The concept of refinancing is great because you should be lowering your current interest rate, meaning you have a lower monthly payment. Plus, most companies will offer a sign up bonus of a couple hundred dollars and you should be using that toward your loans. Don't be an idiot!

If you have looked at the student loan forgiveness programs and you don't qualify or it doesn't look appealing you should refinance. 

If you have less than $50,000 in student loan debt or have 1.5x your income, while working in the private sector (a for profit company), it will be best to refinance.  You'll need to become more frugal (don't get a car payment, choose happy hours over fancy dinners) and aggressively pay off you loans. It will also help if you refinance every couple of years. Get a 10 year plan with a sign up bonus, then again at 7 years with a bonus and repeat. 

If the balance is between 1.5x and 2x you need to weigh your options on which would be best for you.

For those student loan debts that are above 2x your income, with no potential of significant growth above inflation, you may want to look into the 20 year student loan forgiveness plan. ​

When You Shouldn't Refinance
If you are going to apply for student loan forgiveness DO NOT refinance your loans. 

If the government is going to give you loan forgiveness they want to be the ones receiving your interest payments in the mean time.

I applied for, and got, student loan forgiveness which meant I had to suffer through interest rates from  6% all the way up to one at 7.9%. Naturally those were the first ones I targeted when reducing my balance. 


Hopefully this helps and if you have any questions feel free to reach out!