In this article, the labels attributing two of the responses from personal financial advisers were reversed. Kelly Campbell's contribution was second, and Steven Thalheimer's was third.
Ask The Experts
Ric Edelman
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What's the best way to pay for college if I haven't got much money socked away?
I regret there are no secrets for those who failed to plan ahead.
If you haven't saved enough to pay for college, prepare to incur debt.
The Stafford federal loan and other programs are available -- check with the school's financial aid office -- but you may also be forced to borrow against home equity (if you have any).
You can minimize the debt by minimizing the expense. Attend an in-state school to keep tuition low, live at home to avoid the cost of room and board, work part time to raise cash or attend school part time while working full time, ideally for an employer that offers a tuition reimbursement plan.
You should also consider community college for the first two years. It will save a huge amount of money, and you can later transfer to an in-state school to complete your degree without any career risk (employers tend to ask only where you obtained your degree).
