College education, grants & loans for people over 30?

I would like to go to college. Will the goverment help pay? I am 46yrs old and can%26#039;t afford to go to school, work full time and support my small family all at the same time. I know kids who are fresh out of high school can reciueve help but can I?

College education, grants %26amp; loans for people over 30?

Grants %26amp; student loans are not age limited. Grants (money you don%26#039;t have to pay back) are typically income dependent, the lowest incomes get money first and then on up until the funds run out. Student loans may also be income dependent so you won%26#039;t be excluded for age but may be for too high income or you may get less because of your income level.

Scholarships are your best bet. There are actually many scholarships available for older / returning students so do some internet searches for these first before looking into loans. Scholarships are typically provided by private entities so can be limited however that entity sees fit (age, gender, race, group affililation, employer, skill type, etc). If you are planning to attend a specific school, you can also talk to their scholarship %26amp; financial aid departments for advice on this. Note that the financial aid department of a school is often just loans/grants so ask if there is a separate scholarship office.

Avoid student loans if at all possible, or at the very least take only what you absolutely need. These loans will eat you alive when it comes to pay back time. Plan on paying back 3X what you take out, and you cannot under any circumstances declare backruptcy on student loans (they are forever). You would be better off taking a second mortgage than student loans.

College education, grants %26amp; loans for people over 30?

Absolutely! Go ahead and get started with the admissions process and stop by the financial aid office of the college to check your options. Most likely, they will want you to file a FAFSA first which is a generic financial aid application. There may also be other grants and scholarships you qualify for. Ask Financial Aid or check the college website for more info.

Good Luck.

College education, grants %26amp; loans for people over 30?

At 36, I enrolled into a two-year program at Heald College in CA, and most of it was paid by financial aid. If you already have an institution in mind, I suggest contacting their financial aid office to see what your options are. Good Luck!