Scholarship Tip #10: Others

To finish out this series on scholarships, I'd like to write about "others"--those types of money that are given for college, but don't fit the standard definition of a scholarship.  Don't overlook these ways to pay for a college education, because they can be a great way of footing the bill (and not going into debt).

1.  Tuition Reimbursement.
Many companies have a "tuition reimbursement" plan, varying in the amount given, how many years given, if the degree needs to connect to your job, and other factors.  Some tuition reimbursement plans are very lenient:  benefits start on the 1st day of your job and can be applied to any major! Other programs are more specific:  you must have worked there for a year, can only be used at one college, or require you to major in a field related to your work.  Maybe not every plan is right for you, but there is probably one that will be right for your plans.  Even though you need to do some homework to find a good match, don't bypass it because you think that "it's too good to be true".  Tuition Reimbursement programs come in all shapes and sizes...they are good AND true!

Sidenote:  many of these companies apply tuition reimbursement to their "part-time workers" (average of 20 hours / week).  Even though it's tricky to balance work with school, research continues to show that having a part-time job actually helps you manage your time better than if you didn't work at all.  What does that mean?  It means that you are forced to work for 20 hours, followed by focused studying in the 2-3 hour windows you have throughout the day.  Did you catch that?  Focused studying instead of what you would do without a job, which usually involves procrastinating for those same 20 hours and studying at the last-minute anyway.  There is a point where working combined with school can be too much, but most students that work 10-20 hours a week find that the work schedule actually helps them balance their studies, rather than hurting their grades.

Check out these links to find a company that would fit with your education plans, and verify that the program is still being used.  Also note that these links are only a beginning--there are many companies that have tuition-reimbursement plans that don't advertise their perks.  Be willing to ask friends and family to find local companies that would do the same.  Here is a start to finding a job that will not only a paycheck, but help with college costs:

15 Companies That Will Pay for Your Tuition

4 Fast Food Jobs that Pay For Tuition

Free College Education

You probably noticed that Starbucks and UPS came up on multiple lists, and for good reason.  It's because their programs have been up-and-running for multiple years.  They are stable and a good bet for many students looking for a tuition reimbursement program that is here to stay.

2.  Activity Waiver
Activity Waivers are given to students in return for their work in a specific department in college.  These often aren't given to incoming freshman, but if a student proves they are committed in that first year of college, a student should ask about activity waivers and being recommended for one. (Note:  activity waivers are used quite a bit within Performing Arts, Visual Arts, and other departments where work outside of class is a norm).

3. Resident Assistant
Commonly known as "R.A.", this is a job on-campus where a student lives in a dorm, and help monitor student life.  In exchange for their time, they are given free board and room, and sometimes a stipend or help with tuition.  This is an opportunity for college students once they are sophomores or older.

4.  Student Ambassador
This is open to all college students, beginning as Freshman.  What's great is that a student can be an Ambassador for ALL 4 years.  In exchange for working several hours a week, the student is giving anywhere from half to full-tuition (check out Utah State and Weber State--they are very generous with full tuition programs for their ambassadors!).  

5.  Time-Loan Programs
Sometimes a student can receive a "loan" for college, and instead of paying back money, they pay back in time.  One such example is the T.H. Bell Program, where a student can receive $$$ to attend college to earn a teaching degree, and then "pay back" the loan by teaching in-state for the same amount of time they were in college.  (If the college degree takes 4 years, they will teach in Utah for 4 years).