I consistently see things online/hear people talk about drowning in student loan debt. It's honestly annoying to me because it seems like people aren't using all of the resources available to them. Debt can be avoided. Here's how.

If your family struggles financially, federal aid can help you so much.

There are Pell grants and SEOGs given out that make a big impact on the cost of college. Both are based solely on need. Pell grants vary based on how many credit hours you take and are pretty big payouts. SEOGs go to those that are in the highest need and submitted the FAFSA the earliest. (That’s why you should turn your FAFSA in ASAP during the fall/winter!!) SEOGs are not as big of payouts as Pell grants.

If you pair a grant up with the Hope scholarship, then seriously all of the tuition, fees, and books will be paid (and most likely with some money left over.) I know this by personal experience. Which brings me to my next point…

In Georgia, it PAYS to keep your grades up.

If you are worried about student loan debt, focus on getting those A’s and stay in state! The Hope scholarship fluctuates based on credit hours, but should cover the cost of tuition. The Zell Miller scholarship is hard to get, but if you do get it, covers basically everything for wherever you may go. Other states have scholarships like this too of course, but I only really know about Georgia’s.

Get a job!

I know this is an obvious answer but getting a job can help you in more ways than just supplying a paycheck. Many companies have tuition assistance programs. I mean MANY… I searched it up in Google and there were too many for me to even attempt to make a list. So getting a job at the right place not only will give you money to help pay for your expenses, but will also give you a bonus at the end of each semester (if you play your cards right.)

Apply for scholarships.

I know this seems obvious, but not many people are doing it. Maybe you assume because you come from a well off family or because your GPA isn’t a 4.0 that you won’t qualify for any scholarships. That is not true. There are scholarships for pretty much anything you can think of. Colleges often have their own foundation of scholarships too. At Kennesaw State, you turn in one scholarship application that will sift you through a long list of possible scholarships. Adding onto the value of getting a job, there are also career related scholarships. For example, there are GACS (Georgia Association of Convenience Stores) scholarships I was able to apply to this year because of where I work.

Don’t discount community colleges.

Many people I know immediately write off going to a community college or “not so prestigious” school. You can get your 2 years worth of core classes done at a community college for much cheaper, and then transfer to a bigger school if your heart desires. You will still have the school you completed your degree with on the diploma. Or, you can just go to a community college and get a degree there! There is nothing wrong with that. Getting an education is to prepare you for your career after all, not just to have a good time or get a nice diploma.

Adding onto this, if you're still in high school I recommend dual enrolling at a local college! I dual enrolled fully for my senior year and now I'll only have to pay for 3 years of college vs 4. For dual, the state pays it entirely.

Lastly, student loan debt is serious.

Personally, I’ve seen/heard many stories about people drowning in student loan debt, or at least having to pay it off for years and years. That is baffling to me. Debt is no light matter, and I would like to encourage every student to stay away from it the best they can. Don’t just ignore the costs and assume the great job you will get right out of college will cover it all. The costs are real and will follow you. School should be seen as a tool, not the best time of your entire life.

If you come from a wealthy family that has no problem paying for a full tuition at a nice school, go for it! Going to a prestigious and well known school can be a great thing. For people who can’t afford it though… please turn in your FAFSA, look at staying in state, keep your grades up, get that job, apply for scholarships, and don’t discount the small schools around you. Debt can very seriously weigh you down, and if you are out of money, debt can crush you. Students and parents please keep this in mind. STUDENT LOAN DEBT CAN BE AVOIDED.