Now more than ever, a college education is essential to career success. A college degree is something that can never be taken away and something that instills pride in those who earn it. Young or old, education is the goal of many and a financial challenge for most. A person may have the drive and desire for higher education, but no way to fund it. However, there is “free money” available. You just have to know where to look.

Millions of scholarships are awarded each year. Some of the areas in which scholarships can be obtained include athletics, academics, disability, race, nationality and hardship, just to name a few. Start by researching which scholarships apply to your situation. This will take time and patience, but you may be surprised where you can find scholarship money.

Another way to fund your college education is through a grant. Again, it’s just a matter of doing your homework. There are thousands of types of grants; you just have to find them. One common grant is the Federal Pell Grant. This federal grant is normally awarded to students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. It is needs based and awarded based on income level. Awards can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Some grants are available based on the year you graduated high school, some are based on your year in college and many are based on financial need.

Another type of grant to research is the Institutional Grant. This grant is offered by the university you attend and is usually merit based. It can be used to cover the costs of education not funded by federal assistance money. Research this type of grant by talking to your university’s financial aid offices.

Other sources of “free money” include the Federal Work Study Program (FWS Program). This program provides jobs to students with financial need. If you currently have a job, check with your company to see if they have an tutition reimbursement plan. In some case, companies will assist in paying tuition for a commitment to work for them for a determined amount of time. Money for college AND job security? Sounds like a pretty good deal.

If you don’t currently have a job, see if your parent’s employers have any tuition reimbursement programs available for employees’ children. See what your state has available. You may be eligible for money just because you live there. Check with your university and see if they will reimburse you for your skills. Can you tutor or give music lessons?

There is money available. You just have to talk to the right people and look in the right places. An education will last a lifetime and finding a way to fund it will pay off for a lifetime.