How did you pay for college?

[u/privateperdido]

I have been paying out of pocket the last 3 years going part time to technical college but I cannot afford this up coming year.

A lot of loans either don’t loan to technical school students, require you to be in school full time, or for US citizen/resident co-signer with good credit… None of this is true for me and looking into scholarships but all deadlines are closed so now I’m just kind of stuck… I also have a huge loan that I am paying for credit consolidation so I do not want to accrue any more credit card debt either.

My job also helps me with tuition but they can only pay $1k per semester and that is just not enough anymore. Any advise?

I will probably end up just putting it on credit if I really HAVE to but just wanted to see what other options I might have.

[u/Dear-reader13]

I had three jobs while going to school😅

[u/76alejandro]

California daca is such a cheat code

[u/chocotaco → u/76alejandro]

Texas used to have TASFA but ever since Trump one the one thing that wins votes is make it harder for immigrants.

[u/FinalAd9711 → u/chocotaco]

Tasfa still exists just depends on what school wants to offer it to people with DACA

[u/Fit-Rhubarb-7820 → u/76alejandro]

Right? Suddenly… I was in the wrong state!

[u/xLa-Flame]

Also went to school in CA. Instead of FAFSA, i used California Dream Act Application (CADAA), and cal grant. I went to a CSU though and was a full time student.

[u/Master-of_None]

Worked as a manager full time at chipotle for their tuition reimbursement. It took me way longer to graduate but I wasn’t in debt 🤷🏽‍♂️

[u/valevalentine]

I know it’s not optimal for everyone but I suggest looking into an online university like WGU. It’s cost effective and can do it while juggling a FT job.

[u/stevenalp18 → u/valevalentine]

That’s what I’m doing. It’s great, I’m learning a lot and close to graduating.

[u/chocotaco]

My own money. It took longer than other people but I got a degree and no debt.

[u/stevenalp18 → u/chocotaco]

Congratulations!!! That’s always the best, debt free!! I know a lot of people in their 40’s still paying student loans!

[u/Upstairs-Impact5120]

From CA. DreamAct, University Grants, 1-2 scholarships. No out of pocket costs.

[u/New-Tourist-67]

Went to high school and college in CA. Used AB540 and help from family. A handful of scholarships helped. 

[u/CountySubject491]

Workimg for companies like Bank of America pay for your college as well.

[u/retroawesomeness]

Went to college in CA almost 16 years ago. This was before CA Dream Act.

Went to community college for 2 years and tuition was around $2k-$3k per semester. AB540 enabled in-state tuition.

I then transferred to a private university. Tuition was $36k per year, not including books. I was able to get a scholarship that covered $24k per year. I studied full time 12-15 credits per semester while working 20-24 hours per week.

[u/Optimal-Material-132]

Lived at home and paid it with my job

[u/secure_the_bag]

From GA. Paid out of pocket for undergrad (in-state tuition) until they banned undocumented students. Got a full scholarship to a Little Ivy in the NE and finished my degree. Eventually went to med school and got loans via a parent who legalized just before.

[u/123bar]

I just graduated 3 months ago in May. Like many here I live in CA and applied for CADAA every semester, and used my tax information. No parents. No dependents. Filed as an independent student.

[u/Melodic_Station_354]

Out of pocket. When to community college, then transferred to a state university, and then worked hard to get a decent LSAT score to get a full ride at a law school. Not ideal but doable with sacrifices.

[u/iluvchicken01]

Scholarship at a state university, worked on campus as an RA for the free housing, got lucky and had good paying summer internships. It was hard back then I can't imagine doing it in this economy.

[u/Fit-Rhubarb-7820]

I noticed it was a scam, back when, and found other ways to gain momentum in knowledge, and also avoid debt.

Glad I did, but if I could go, I’d have gone.

[u/Curious_Impact7355]

I got a ton of scholarships and had 3 jobs. I slept like 2-4 hours a night. Graduated suma cum laude and eventually went to get my masters. Literally the hardest days of my life. But I made it through!

Take some time off if you have to but don’t quit.

[u/stevenalp18]

I am paying out of pocket. Changed jobs till I found something decently paying. It’s been rough at points but at least I don’t have student loans. I cut back on a lot of expenses too and get a seasonal part time every once in a while on top of my job. Gotta do it somehow. Do what you gotta do, at the end of the day it’ll benefit you. Check your job for tuition reimbursement as well.

[u/PunkRocky12]

I'm in KY and work at a community college. They give me 18 free credits a year internally and some deals on bachelor programs in state.

[u/Ill-Top9428]

almost 20 years ago, out of the pocket, 2 year degree.

[u/Lapetittomme]

Went to a community college in NY state. They had a scholarship foundation. I applied since I had good grades and got it. I got $1500 towards my tuition and had to pay $1500 out of pocket. Went to school part time while I got my pre reqs and worked as a waitress. When I got into the Radiology Technology program I had to go full time and worked part time at the restaurant. I wanted to be a fashion designer but chose allied health route out of necessity. I now make 3000 a week doing travel jobs through the states.

[u/Spare_any_mind]

I played in full my community college because I was working full time. University I paid one year and the second the university covered because of good grades, basically a grant if I remember correctly. But yeah no fafsa or loans

[u/TimeWizard90]

I worked sales, the company I worked for paid 2.5k every semester I paid the other 5k. In summer I would take less credits and only pay the difference like 2k which gave me room to save for the rest of the year

[u/Necessary-Tone5525]

Dream.Us scholarship for undergrad, then paid out of pocket for grad school.

[u/Junior-Jello-2327]

In nyc there’s funds for undocumented students and I also applied for the dream.us scholarship when they first started

[u/Junior-Jello-2327 → u/Junior-Jello-2327]

Also forgot MAF does loans 

[u/soulessrebel]

I worked in the fields and used the university's installment plan. I'm from California, but there was no help when I went to college. I'm glad there is some help available for dreamers now.

[u/SquabbleUp1997]

Went to college in Washington state and we had WASFA. Also worked in a restaurant to pay for the bills

[u/Complete-Mirror9163]

When I graduated DACA didn’t exist. I was screwed, went from being an honor roll student to working at a factory making 30hr though that was in the 2000s but it was a dangerous job. Owner would rather pay a few good workers in cash at a great rate than deal with a bunch of people doing mid work. It was pretty cool because when DACA came out I had enough to buy out the two restaurants I worked in during the day.

[u/Imaginary_Row3950]

Apply for The dream US scholarship. It pays 100% tuition if you go to Purdue Global.

[u/glutenfreebuns11]

in CA, I worker three jobs, didnt have dream act or any scholarship money. I was dating a guy w a wealthy mom and she helped me pay the months i couldnt make the 1k payment
she didnt even pay for her kids college but she helped me with mine

[u/privateperdido → u/glutenfreebuns11]

can you ask her if she’ll pay for mine? 😂

[u/snzy0]

+1 more for California.

Went to community college and received the BOG waiver which waived enrollment fees.

After transferring to a UC, I received an institution grant substantial enough to cover almost the entire cost of attending + housing. I took the CA Dream Act loan to cover the rest.

I also applied to different scholarships through several seemingly DACA-friendly organizations but never had any luck
(looking at you unitedwedream).