• Many students don't consider the idea of going to college because of the enormous cost. Luckily, there are many resources available to help you pay for college. Here we will give you sources and strategies to alleviate financial stress and a comprehensive list of scholarship opportunities.
    FUNDING STRATEGIES 
     
    Use a Net Price Calculator http://collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx to gather information on what particular schools cost.  
    • Net Price Calculators allow you to enter in your information to find out what similar students paid. 
    • These calculators can be found on university webpages, usually in the Admissions/Financial Aid section. 
    • College Board has a guide http://bit.ly/1ycvJB7 to help interpret and compare calculator results.
    Apply to at least one Financial Safety School 
    • An FSS is a school that the student could afford with little to no financial assistance 
    Register for the Colorado College Opportunity Fund (COF) https://cof.college-assist.org/
    • This is a stipend for all Colorado residents who will be attending a participating public college or university. 
    • There is no income limit and you do not have to be a full-time student.
    • All students should register for the COF even if they are thinking of going to college in another state. 
    • The stipend is $75 per credit hour, up to 145 credit hours. 
    Apply for Financial Aid
    • It is in your best interest to complete a FAFSA application as soon as possible.  http://fafsa.ed.gov/
    • There are several types of financial aid; need-based, merit-based, loans, grants, etc. 
    • http://finaid.org offers tons of information about savings, loans, calculators and preparing for the financial future.
    Scholarships!
    • Scholarships offer FREE MONEY for college if you take the time to apply. We have tons of resources to help you find literally thousands of scholarship opportunities.  
    • http://central.greeleyschools.org//site/Default.aspx?PageID=2839 Go here for our school's scholarship page
    • Visit The Future Center in Room 211 for additional help with scholarship searches. 
    • https://thescholarshipsystem.com/blog-for-students-families/the-ultimate-list-of-scholarships-for-women-and-girls/
    Claim AP Credit and Shorten Your Time in College
    • You can shorten your stay in college and lessen the cost by claiming AP credit from classes at Central.
    • Most colleges will list what tests/scores qualify for college credit through their institution. 
    • Do your research ahead of time! Some colleges won't accept AP credit so don't waste time doing the work if your choice school won't recognize it.
    Use the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program (WUE) http://www.wiche.edu/wue
    • An option to consider if you want to go to college out-of-state. Students are eligible to pay 150% of the resident tuition.
    • Participating states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. 
    Start at a Community College (Junior College) 
    • It can be a very wise idea to complete your general requirements for the first two years at a community college and then transfer to a 4-year, in-state college or university later.  
    • NOTE: Many Colorado junior colleges state "guaranteed transfer," but that doesn't mean they will always fulfill specific degree and/or major requirements. You should be careful and check to ensure your first two years at a community college is worth your while.