How to Pay for College by Yourself in 12 Steps, Without Parents

College is expensive, and not everyone has financial support from family. Whether you want independence, don’t want to strain your parents’ finances, or simply don’t have their help, you’re not alone—about 15% of students pay for college without parental support. But with the right strategy, you can cover tuition, housing, and daily expenses on your own.

This guide breaks down 12 practical ways to pay for school, so you can reach your academic goals without overwhelming stress. Let’s dive in and explore how you can take control of your college funding—on your own terms.

Table of Contents

1. 1. Understand your college costs
2. 2. Save for college
3. 3. Research scholarships and grants
4. 4. Apply for federal work-study or a part-time job
5. 5. Seek employer tuition assistance
6. 6. Consider a payment plan
7. 7. Apply for federal student loans 
8. 8. Take out private student loans
9. 9. Explore alternative loans
10. 10. Cut costs
11. 11. Choose an affordable school
12. 12. Consider a different path

1. Understand your college costs

Once you decide where you’ll attend, your first step is to find out how much college will cost. The Department of Education’s Net Price Calculator can help you estimate tuition, fees, and living expenses for your school’s program. 

In 2024, the average cost for a first-year undergrad to attend an in-state four-year public college was more than $26,000, or about $2,170 per month. If you’re still undecided on where you’ll attend, start with this number as your general budget. 

2. Save for college

Saving for college should be your priority. Scholarships and grants—more on those later—are never guaranteed, and they aren’t likely to cover all your education costs. 

Savings accounts you can choose from include:

• An education savings account or 529 plan
• Taxable investment accounts
• Matched savings account or individual development account (IDA)
• Certificate of deposit (CD)
• High-yield savings account 

If you have a source of income, figure out a budget by reviewing how much you make and spend each month. Whatever you may have left over should go into savings every month, even if that number is nowhere close to the amount you need. 

I recommend parents open a 529 plan as soon as you have your child’s Social Security number. I also recommend discussing college plans with grandparents. Often they need to spend down their estate for tax reasons and are more than happy to participate in funding college expenses.

3. Research scholarships and grants

You don’t need to repay federal Pell Grants and state grants, making them essentially free money. 

You can check out our guide to college scholarships and speak with your high school’s guidance counseling office, your college’s financial aid office, your employer, and local municipal and community organizations to find ones you might qualify for. 

4. Apply for federal work-study or a part-time job

The work-study program is federally funded and offers part-time work, such as on-campus jobs, to students with financial need. You can check with your college or university’s financial aid office to learn if your school participates in the work-study program—or review our resource on the top schools for federal work-study.

Because the work-study program is based on financial need, it may limit your work hours. You might want to consider a part-time job instead to help pay your way through school.

5. Seek employer tuition assistance

Many employers, including some hospitals, help their employees pay for tuition. Check with your human resources department and ask whether tuition assistance is available, or consider applying for a job at a company offering tuition assistance. 

Education benefits are also available for military service members and nurses. 

6. Consider a payment plan

Not every school offers payment plans, but ones that do often set up these installments interest-free. There’s no need to take out a loan or get a cosigner. You can find out from your school’s financial aid office whether it offers a payment plan. 

7. Apply for federal student loans 

These widely available loans are offered to undergrads, graduate, and professional students, and parents of students. 

Prioritize Direct Subsidized Loans over Direct Unsubsidized Loans or Parent PLUS Loans because the interest on Subsidized Loans is covered by the U.S. Department of Education. Apply by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

8. Take out private student loans

These are loans from private lenders. They generally require a cosigner or a minimum income level and good credit but offer more favorable terms, such as shorter payoff time frames. 

However, private student loans also lack the repayment benefits of federal loans, including income-based repayment plans, deferment, and student loan forgiveness.

We’ve researched and rated the best private student loans. If you might need private student loans, consider beginning with Credible, which is a marketplace that lets you view your prequalified rates with several student loan lenders—all with no effect on your credit score.

9. Explore alternative loans

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending and income-share agreements (ISAs) are alternative ways you can borrow money for college. 

Through online P2P crowdfunding platforms, investors fund your loan, which you repay with interest. Fair warning: They don’t usually offer much borrower protection. 

An ISA is an agreement between you and an institution—generally, schools and training programs—that states it will fund your education costs upfront. In exchange, you agree to pay a percentage of your future earnings for a set time frame. We dug into how ISAs work if you want to determine whether they’re right for you.

I do not recommend taking on more debt for your entire schooling than you expect to receive in your first year’s salary. For example, an engineer may be able to afford more school loans than a sociology major.

10. Cut costs

You might feel stressed about figuring out how to pay for college on your own, and the possibility of getting stuck with years or even decades of loan payments may be scary. But you can take several actions to cut costs. 

First, focus on the costs you can control.

Living on campus or off? For how long? Will you cook your own meals or sign up for a meal plan?

There’s no avoiding housing and food expenses, but you can decide to make these essentials more affordable. For instance, the average college student will spend $250 on groceries per month, according to Education Data Initiative. You could spend almost twice as much on a meal plan.

11. Choose an affordable school

You can find the right school at the right price. You might decide to forgo your dream school if attending means you’ll be debt-ridden for the next several decades.

Also, many people join the military for several years to be able to take advantage of the GI Bill upon termination of their service.

 Going to a community college before transferring? Will you stay in-state or go out of state? These factors can reshape how much college will cost you. 

According to the Education Data Initiative, the average in-state college tuition is $9,678, compared to $27,091 out of state. But taking general education classes at a community college can be cheaper—without skimping on the quality of your education.

12. Consider a different path

Many people are starting to realize that college isn’t for everyone. And that should be OK. 
There are different ways to succeed, so don’t feel pressured to pursue a post-secondary degree if it’s unnecessary. Many careers don’t require going to a four-year university—and student loans are still available for these courses of study, which include aspiring cosmetologists and pilots.