Counselors and school leaders are often positioned to help students manage the college application process, including finding financial aid and ensuring that the choices are within a family’s economic means. Typically, schools have lists of local and national scholarships that they share as well as information about in-state programs that tend to be more affordable than their out-of-state equivalents. That said, it’s practically impossible for school counselors, even designated college counselors, to be aware of every possible option available because the offerings are complex, and they frequently change.

What’s important, though, as school counselors advise students about postsecondary plans, is that they equip themselves with an understanding of local free and inexpensive options to support students who are first generation college goers (and might not have experienced caretakers) or who need to make college fit into a limited budget. The good news is that most states–and even countries–have schools and programs that can work within just about any financial situation. The following three strategies are meant to help counselors conduct their own research about local initiatives that provide opportunities for students who wouldn’t otherwise have them. 

Free In-State Options

With a bit of research, outreach, and connections, counselors can learn about free in-state options for students who qualify. One reason why an understanding of these options is so critical is that they usually have criteria that students must meet that might require planning prior to the application season. For example, students might need to maintain a certain GPA to be eligible for a free community college option, or they may need to take certain coursework that goes beyond the general graduation requirements. Even some in-state free programs don’t align to the state’s graduation requirements–meaning students need to take additional classes that they might not have planned to take for graduation to gain entry into a free college option. When counselors understand the intricacies and variations of local eligibility requirements for free college, they can help encourage students and their families to be ready and prepared when the time comes to apply. 

Specific Programs and Majors

Beyond general in-state options, such as community colleges that offer free tuition based on a set of criteria that students must adhere to prior to applying and sometimes during their experience, lots of in-state colleges and universities offer program- and major-specific cost-reductions. In some states, high demand and hard-to-fill jobs drive certain free degree offerings. For example, states might see the need for more health care professionals than is projected to enter the workforce and therefore offer free nursing degrees at state colleges and universities. Another example would be a specific major, such as business, with the ability to transfer from a free in-state associates degree to finish a bachelor's degree at a neighboring in-state 4-year program. It’s important for counselors to be aware of the intricacies and combinations of free and low-cost options, especially for students who plan to study in a particular program anyway–turning an expensive plan into a free or more affordable one. And, for students who consider college as too expensive and out-of-reach, this might be their best path into a higher wage job than not having gone to college at all. 

Local Businesses with Tuition Reimbursement Support

Local businesses and industry partners are coming to the table with their own options as well. Because of workforce demand, some industry leaders are providing tuition reimbursement to students who start working in the field right out of high school as the business in which they work sends them to school in tandem. Whether it be through accelerated programs, night courses, or school and work agreements, some industries are looking to hire highly talented young professionals and up-skill their employees for future jobs. These are great options for students who want to go to college but need to work to support themselves and their families. Of course, there are businesses that provide non-specific degree support for even part-time employees, but some businesses are looking to hire local students into full-time positions with an understanding that up-skilling them is a long-term workforce development strategy. Counselors who know about industry leaders with these types of initiatives can advise students about the credentials, certificates, internships, coursework, and application process that often come as a prerequisite for eligibility. 

Conclusion

Just knowing these options exist is the first step; communication with students and families has to also be part of the process. Sending messages to students and families as well as scheduling events to present information are both really important aspects of getting the right details in the hands of students who need it most. Navigating the college application process is hard enough for anyone who plans to go, but it’s often even more so for those who think they can’t afford it because of a lack of information about how to get a degree for free or at least far less expensive than anticipated. 

If you want to see a web-based platform that can support counselors with scholarship management, the application process, event scheduling, financial planning, and more, schedule your demo of MaiaLearning today.