On the day I graduated from college, I came out with a Bachelor of Music degree, an eagerness to hit the real world—and not an ounce of debt. Don’t get me wrong. Like caffeine, cold medicine, and laxatives, student loans can be a blessing when used judiciously. But when you consider the crippling debt many young people start their careers with, why not aim for bypassing them altogether?
Yes, you can make it through college without student loans.
Here’s how I did it.
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations!
In This Article
College Without Student Loans: How I Did It
Save, save, save.
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit.” Proverbs 21:5
Where I grew up, a driver’s license was a requirement for getting a job (because of distance). So as soon as I got mine, I got a job. I also started a budget, a simple task that yielded great rewards. Sure, you probably won’t have rent, an electric bill, or groceries to pay for if you’re still in high school. But you’d be surprised how quickly unchaperoned money can disappear. A night at the bowling alley with friends, pitching in for a pizza delivery, a new Christmas dress, basketball shoes, stops at the vending machine… All these things add up.
With a budget, you know exactly where your money is going at all times—and maybe keep it home a little more.
Scholarships, scholarships, scholarships.
“God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
You know all those $500 scholarships on the list your high school guidance counselor gave you? You might be tempted to think, “Pfft. What’s $500 gonna do? I need $30,000 just for one year!”?
But then you’d be forgetting simple math.
Five-hundred dollars multiplied by n equals … a lot more. I applied for every scholarship I was eligible for and, in the end, scholarships paid the largest chunk of my tuition bill.
I took my ACT—twice.
“But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:18
Not that my first score was anything to cry about, but the college I went to offered a tiered four-year scholarship based on your ACT grade. Taking the test again gained me two more points and another $2,000 or so a year.
If you ask me, that was a Saturday morning well spent.
I signed up for financial aid.
“All who are prudent act with knowledge.” Proverbs 13:16
Financial aid offices are always talking about FAFSA, blah, blah, blah. But don’t ignore them. This single, but tedious application can help you knock a lot of money off your college costs, particularly if you come from a lower income family.
You don’t have to be at poverty level to benefit, so make sure you take the time to fill this out!
I worked a job through my whole college career.
“The desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” Proverbs 13:4
Light hangs, set building, monitoring stage right, working the sound booth, setting up tables and chairs, crowd management for performances … These are some of the many tasks I performed in my work study position as a theater hand at Viterbo’s fine arts center during my first two years of college. The second two years were a little more predictable when I moved into the campus library and completed an overhaul of our musical score collection.
But the point is, I worked. And during summer breaks, I worked even harder in waitressing and housekeeping jobs. And since I was still living at home, all that money went toward school.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
but, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
I didn’t own a car.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6
I didn’t own a car—at least not for the first three years. Why does this matter? Because, well, cars are not cheap. Even if you buy a cheap car, like my ‘94 Buick Skylark with the crackly radio and the questionable brakes, you still have to pay for insurance and registration, tires, repairs, parking, gas…
Honestly? Carpooling really isn’t that bad. It’s a great way to spend time with friends.
I accepted help.
“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4
I won’t lie. My parents helped pay a small portion of my tuition, and I accepted it readily. If you are lucky enough to have someone who has stashed away any amount for your college education, please thank them!
Something else to consider…
“Honor the Lord with your wealth…” Proverbs 3:9
The university where I attended cost about $30,000 a year in my time. (It’s more now.) I could have chosen to go to a state school for half the price, and you might consider this as well. HOWEVER… Don’t overlook a university just because it’s expensive. Some of the most expensive schools have the best scholarship offerings and financial aid packages so you end up paying the same as a cheaper school.
But it’s still out there: There’s a wide price range between colleges. If you are expecting to foot a lot of the bill yourself, seek out once with a lower sticker price. This is one area where a higher price isn’t always indicative of high quality.
College Without Debt: You Can Do It Too!
Don’t get caught up in the snowball of debt. You can do college without student loans as well. Find more great resources from money management guru Dave Ramsey, starting with How to Pay for College Without Student Loans.
For more about money management for Christian teens and young adults, see my post Avoiding the Prison of Debt, Even In College!