Subsidizing College Degrees

As the cost of attending college climbs further and further beyond many families' reach, many students are stuck trying to find ways to pay. Most students will search for some kind of help, whether through grants and scholarships or by taking out a loan.

In Great Britain, they take a unique approach. Prime Minister Tony Blair proposed a method there wherein students do not pay tuition until they graduate and get a job. Then, individuals pay for their education based on how much they earn.

Why Would This Be Good in the United States?

College admission is closely linked with family income in the United States. Only 4.5 percent of individuals from the bottom quarter of income brackets earn a college degree by the time they are 24. Meanwhile, the top quarter is graduating 51 percent of students.

Contributing further to this problem is the movement of financial aid money out of grant programs and into loans. Lower-income students may be less eager to take on educational debt---either because they have little experience with loans or because they simply fear for their families fewer assets.

But for now, the U.S. does not generally subsidize your education---or rather, it does so in a very limited way through Stafford loans, which aren't available to all.

What are some ways you can get your education subsidized in the United States?

Make a Commitment to Become a Teacher

Many states are in dire need of teachers---especially in certain school systems. In Illinois, for example, many schools struggle to find qualified teachers. Because of this, the state offers a program that will help pay students to earn a teaching degree.

What do you have to do? Simply this. Commit to teaching in one of the under served schools for a while.

Illinois is not the only state where this is an option. You can investigate similar options in your own state.

Ask Your Employer

Many employers will contribute to the cost of a higher education, though it generally must suit the business's needs, and you'll probably have to remain an employee there for a while after you graduate.

If you're out of high school and already employed, you can ask your human resources department about options like these. You may have to attend school on a part-time basis, but eventually you can earn a degree---and greatly increase your earning potential!

Scholarships and Grants

The best-known way to get money for your education is to apply for scholarships and grants. There's money for anyone out there who knows how to look for it. You don't even really need to be a superb academic.

Advertisement

Get More Information