Choosing to become a teacher is a vocation thousands of people choose to pursue at some point in their working life. Whether you are a high school student looking to start a teaching career or changing path in mid-life, teaching offers a rewarding experience. Noodle reports a career in teaching is rewarding on a personal level without providing a hefty wage packet. Taking the time to create a plan for paying for college will help you save money throughout your studies.
1. Apply for Scholarships
The education sector is a difficult one in the 21st-century, with millions of teachers drowning in student loan debt. Colleges and universities offer scholarships but finding private scholarships are a positive option. The Nancy Etz Scholarship is open to all college students who are looking to further their academic careers. Receiving a $1,000 scholarship in return for an essay submitted to the Nancy Etz Scholarship lessens the impact of paying for a teaching course.
2. Federal Grants are Available
There are several options available for student teachers to explore offered by the federal government. The traditional Pell Grants for Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certificate for Licensing Programs and add to the funding available for students. The Pell Grants are available for students enrolled in teaching programs who meet the income requirements.
Another option open to student teachers is TEACH grants that provide funding if the student completes four years of teaching after graduation. TEACH grants require student teachers to work in low-income neighborhoods teaching specific subjects. In return for accepting a role in a low-income region, the recipients of these grants have their debt wiped clean.
3. Attend Community College
A growing trend among students is to seek a less expensive college experience by attending community college. Local colleges allow students to complete two years of college education, with a bridging program taking them to a four-year program. The cost of a college education has expanded over the last few years and continues to become more expensive, with two years of community college lowering the overall cost by thousands of dollars. President Joe Biden has begun the process of eliminating the cost of community college for all students to make this a popular option for all.
4. Work-Study Programs
Students are looking for different ways of avoiding student loans, including taking on work-study roles at a higher education institution. Work-study positions are available at most colleges and provide a mix of tuition costs and wages for students who qualify. These positions offer low wages but do provide a positive way of attending school without being reliant on student loans.
5. Compare School Costs
Schools around the U.S. have the right to charge what they see fit to educate the next generation of teachers. Student teachers need to compare the cost of attending school at specific institutions to make sure they get the best deal for their education. Forbes reports saving can reach the thousands when different schools are compared for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Paying for college can give students sleepless nights and cause concern for their families. The pandemic is causing changes to every sector, with education no different.