college

It's certainly true that college costs have been rising faster than inflation for many years. However, that doesn't mean it isn't possible to pay for it. Help is out there, you just have to look for it---and maybe not as much as you think.

Most financial aid comes from the Federal government. Some states offer a significant amount, and you may be eligible for aid from non-profit and private sources. There are three types of aid: work-study, grants, and loans.

The Federal government offers all three, and these programs are mostly need-based, meaning help is given according to how much you need it. Non-governmental sources, which can include individuals, high schools, community organizations, businesses and unions, usually offer aid in the form of scholarships. Scholarships are usually grants, which means the money need not be repaid. They are often non-need based, which means they may be based on anything else, such as grades, test scores, area of study, athletics, or a parent's membership in the granting organization.

Work-study is essentially a jobs program. It means that the student receives a part-time job with the college. Loans must be paid back, with interest, but the government pays the interest while the student is in college at least half-time and for several months afterwards. This gives the former student some time to find a job before payments come due. It's even possible for payments to be deferred in cases of unemployment or other financial hardship. Parts of the loan may be forgiven (they don't need to be paid back) for public service, like joining Americorps, the armed forces, or teaching in certain areas. When payments start, they are based the amount owed: the bigger the loan, the bigger the eventual payment.

Are search services a good idea? Before handing over a fee, which may be $150, be aware of what you're getting. They offer sources of aid, not the aid itself. You still have to contact the sources yourself and go through their application procedures. The U.S. Department of Education (DOE), which hands out about 70% of all aid, makes information on its programs readily available through high schools, college financial aid offices, and it's own web site, where they want to make it easy for you to think college. If the search firm pointed you to the DOE, you probably got taken and should complain to the DOE.