Students are having to work harder than ever to find the money they need to pay for school and to pay off debt.
As of this writing, only about $17.3 billion is available in Pell Grants and scholarships, which are often used to pay tuition and fees.
That figure has remained steady over the last decade.
But even if students were able to find all of that money within their budgets, it wouldn’t solve the problem of how to pay back the debt they took on when they enrolled in college.
As many students will tell you, college is expensive.
How much should you save for college?
The best way to know how much to save for your future is to compare your options with those offered by financial aid.
The best financial aid offers the chance to save money in the short term and then get a much-needed boost in the long term, according to the American Council on Education.
If you’re not sure how much you can afford, here are the top options to help you make the right decision: Free tuition and tuition waivers to families with income up to $200,000.
These financial aid programs are meant to help students afford tuition and room and board.
But students who are eligible for these programs are often eligible for lower payments than other students.
This means the money available to them could be less than what you might have thought it was.
Many programs require students to complete some kind of financial literacy test, which can be complicated.
The most common kind of test is the Financial Literacy Assessment (FLA).
It’s a set of questions that students take in the classroom and in the field that ask students how they understand and apply the financial information they’re getting from the financial aid they’re receiving.
Some colleges will even have specific test-taking requirements for students.
For example, if you’re applying to the College of Arts and Sciences in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to take the test in person at the school.
Other programs may require you to take a financial literacy assessment at a community college or other accredited institution of higher learning.
Free or reduced-price school meals for all students.
These meals are usually free or discounted for students who qualify.
The goal of free or reduced prices is to help families who might not otherwise be able to afford a meal because of financial hardships, such as child care costs.
Many schools provide free or low-cost meals for low-income students.
But the most common types of school meals are cafeteria or breakfasts.
There’s a variety of other ways that schools offer free or lower-cost school meals to students.
The school meal programs offered by some colleges vary, and they often come with different requirements for parents.
If the meals are free, they are often offered for students from low- and middle-income families.
The Food Pantry, which provides meals to low- to middle-class families, has a $5.50-per-person-per meal minimum.
Other free meals are available for students of certain income levels.
Students of low-to-middle-income and lower-income households receive free or inexpensive meals to help them afford food, with or without food stamps.
Students who qualify for Pell Grants, scholarships, or loans qualify for free or affordable school meals.
For more information, check out the College Cost Calculator.
Free tuition waivers.
Free school lunch.
Free and reduced-cost parking.
Free, low- or no-cost childcare.
Free groceries.
Free transportation.
Free textbooks.
Free clothing.
Free library services.
Free parking.
The College Cost Estimate tool lets you see how much it costs to live within your means and the average monthly cost of living in each of the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
College Cost Calculators can also help you calculate how much your college will cost you in total.
To see what college costs to you in a particular state or city, check Outwardly’s Cost Calculator tool.
Free lunch.
Students at many colleges have free lunch.
This is often a very good thing, as free lunch usually goes to families that qualify for federal Pell Grants.
Many colleges offer scholarships to help pay for meals at many of their campuses.
Some also offer scholarships for certain classes, like the arts or physical education.
Free food.
Free lunches are often available on campus.
The majority of colleges offer free meals on campus, although some colleges are limited in what they offer.
For free meals, students who do not qualify for public assistance may qualify for government benefits.
Students with disabilities may also qualify for food stamps and other federal benefits.
Free books.
Some of these scholarships are only available for families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $44,000 for a family of four.
These scholarships can help students pay for books, but they often also have other educational benefits.
These include the possibility of taking on extra work, financial aid that may include scholarships, and access to an online resource
