6 Ways to Avoid or Reduce your Student Loan Debt

Paying for college can add up quickly. Between rental fees, book charges, room & board requirements and other such additions; the path to avoiding these costs seems unbearable. Throughout the tender of a 4-year degree, the average student will sink into ten's of thousands into debt, finding themselves in a tough position as they scratch and claw at doors into the real world. The main importance of seeking a 4-year degree is obtaining the documentation you need to reach a successful start within the current job market. Thankfully, there are a host of options that can help chip away at these costs, helping them ease the load once you reach your graduation ceremony. Below are 6 different ways you can utilize to help avoid or reduce your student loan debts.

Financial Aid
One of the easiest ways to help pay for your degree program is through seeking help at your school's financial aid office. These representatives help you comb through your family history, finding niche areas where they can save you a buck or two on your program fees. Many students avoid this step as it may seem like a paperwork process that is a timely expense. The truth in the matter is that this filing is worth the pen to paper action. Spending a little time researching with a financial assistant can go a long way into helping you cover some of the costly items associated with your degree program. Most schools offer these advisers at a free recommendation, allowing the student to sit down for a meeting on their terms. It is best practice to get the ball rolling in this process prior to starting your career at a university as these programs often carry roll-over that can cover some of the costs on a year-to-year basis.

Pre-File for Assistance
The National Federal Student Aid program known as FAFSA is a great starting point after being admitted into a university or degree program. Most of the documents needed to apply for these assistance grants can be uploaded to a laptop or desktop computer, keeping you in the comfort of your own home. The services that FAFSA offers extend assistance to students prior to their beginning at a school, which can go a long way in the decision-making process a student with multiple offers or options faces. This program has begun accepting applications that year prior to your start at a university, keeping this as an item you can work towards while you are still attending high school. This process can also be handled via snail mail, allowing you to gather hard copies of your paperwork if you wish to travel a more traditional route. The flexibility that this Federal program offers allows students the freedom and time needed to complete prior to facing the depths of these potential debts.

Scholarships, Scholarships, Scholarships
The idea of filing additional paperwork and filling out multiple applications is the last thing a high school senior wants to hear, but it makes a huge impact to the outlook of after-college life. Get with your high school guidance counselor at the beginning of your senior year to start filing out a portfolio or resume for your high school accomplishments. There are some scholarships available to students who simply put the time and effort in to complete. While many are specific and require different kind of attributes to attain, their depth is out of this world. A simple internet search will return nearly a million different options for a user to apply for. While you might not qualify for every offer on the table, you'd be hard-pressed not to find a small fortune of different options you meet the requirements for. Getting on these opportunities early and often in your high school career will pay massive dividends as you move towards future pursuits.

Don't Ignore Coursework Offers
One of the main thing high school students have at their fingertips is the ability to enroll in college courses prior to actually being enrolled at a university. These courses are even offered via the public education system. What are commonly known as advanced placement courses or rogue scholar options are the seeds that plant degree credits towards your future pursuits. Many of these courses offer students the ability to chip away at college credits prior to enrolling at a university. Most of these courses come at the dime of the high school, attaching very minimal fees to get a student on-board with these programs. The student pays thousands less for these degree credits and they can get the simplistic degree credits out of the way prior to beginning their college journey. These courses are a staple for helping to reduce your student loan debts.

Weigh your Schooling Options
The main intrigue students find when searching for colleges to attend is the ability to go out on their own for the first time in their life. No more be coddled or having household rules to abide by. Many students get lost in this sauce and find themselves attending a university based off of reasons other then schooling concerns or cost effectiveness. The biggest form of advice that can be shed when weighing your options is narrowing your goals down. Is there something you are truly passionate about doing with your future? What do you want to do with your life? If you cannot reach a final decision with these questions, it may be best to attend a community college to get your general coursework out of the way first. The cost associated with community colleges is much lower than private universities and can be a good starting point for those looking to find their way in what they want to do with their life. Most coursework will transfer from these schools, leaving you with a lower bill with the same coursework requirements heading into your desired degree program.

Loan Forgiveness Programs
One of the best options to research after completing your degree is the many different loan forgiveness programs. The programs are offered in the same nature that a financial aid program would be. For example, applying for disability or for assistance applying for disability, look no further than these programs to help suit your needs. Assistance applying for disability is something that these programs will specialize in, along with other assistance programs extending to the military, students with different needs, low-income families, and other similarities. These programs often come with different form options to seek out and will put you in touch with the correct sources needed to keep your application process smooth and hassle free. For example, applying for disability is often a daunting task. Describing your disability, gaining doctor backing, and other such paperwork can be a hassle to obtain. Loan forgiveness representatives can help ease this process by putting you in touch with the specialists in these fields, reducing the hoops you have to jump through to gain the assistance you need.