Ways Students Can Pay Off College Debt.

There are very few college students who take off their cap and gown without a financial burden on their shoulders. It seems almost impossible to attend any form of higher education without needing federal aid or student loans. While most of us can’t eradicate that debt immediately, there are ways to alleviate it. 

On and Off-Campus Jobs

There are many available opportunities to find a job either on or off your college campus. Most universities are in partnership with a website called Handshake. This website gives you a list of all jobs in your area. You can set filters to narrow down your search:

• Mile range for where you’d like to work
• If you would like remote options
• Federal Work-Study or open to everyone
• Full-time or part-time

Colleges also have career centers that you can visit to talk to someone in-person about looking for a job. There are many career opportunities out there, you just have to know where to look and how to pursue them. 

Scholarships

Numerous websites out there provide you with a list of unique scholarships to apply to. Unfortunately, most people still come up empty due to the high demand. The most trustworthy way to get scholarships will be through your college. Searching for the keyword ‘scholarship’ on the main website of your college should lead you to their landing page with all of the scholarship information. There are award opportunities for transfer, freshmen, graduating, and continuing students. Some colleges also direct you to outside scholarships that they aren’t directly associated with, but those are still trustworthy. Here’s a list of a few of them:

• Unigo
• College Greenlight
• BigFuture
• Cappex
• Finaid

The good thing about scholarships is that, while they aren’t as easily obtained as loans, they don’t have to be paid back. That’s part of the reason why they’re difficult to get. It’s free money. Grants are the same way, and those are only obtained through specific qualifications. 

Internships

These are wonderful opportunities that you can do while working on your degree. Some college classes – especially graduate ones – require you to take on an internship for a certain amount of hours. This means that there are internships for just about every career path. Whether you’re getting a degree in engineering or English, there’s an internship out there you can apply to. The best part is that some of them pay you to be a part of them. Keep in mind, not every internship you apply for will pay you. 

If you’re looking for ones that will be sure to refine your search or look further into the corporation you’re applying to. Utilizing career sites such as Handshake can help you with finding new paid opportunities. This platform is unique because all the jobs you see posted are specifically for students, and employers are always actively recruiting for those listed positions. Last year, recruiters sent more than 16 million messages, giving students a personal connection to the top companies hiring at their schools. Join Handshake if you’re ready to pay off your college debt and find the job of your dreams!