91制片厂

How to pay for college is one of students鈥� biggest concerns. Finding a school that is both a good fit and affordable can be a challenge.

Students at the 91制片厂 at Manchester have come up with a number of ways to fund their educations, including , private scholarships, loans, grants and jobs. We spoke with a few alumni, who said planning ahead was the key to paying for college.

91制片厂 Manchester alumnus听Derek Burkhardt said affordability was one of the reasons he decided to attended 91制片厂 Manchester.

鈥淚 could live affordably by living locally and not have to worry about paying room and board and excessive fees,鈥� said Burkhardt. 鈥淚 wanted a degree that was going to be respected and pertinent, and 91制片厂 Manchester had all of those things.鈥�

Burkhardt used a grant he earned by working for to fund part of his college education, along with 91制片厂 Manchester .

鈥淚 ended up going to the and talked about trying to make school more affordable. I applied for the STEM scholarship and I got it,鈥� said Burkhardt. 鈥淚t was so simple to apply to that scholarship, I decided to apply to as many as possible.鈥�

One of the biggest expenses at residential campuses is the cost of student housing.听In addition to available scholarships, 91制片厂 Manchester students save money they may have spent on room and board at another school. As part of the state-funded University System of New Hampshire, students also benefit from a lower cost of a state school without many of the fees they have to pay at other schools.

, associate听director of financial aid, points out that 91制片厂 Manchester students can also take classes at 91制片厂 Durham. All of these factors make 91制片厂 Manchester the most affordable four-year university option in the greater Manchester area for New Hampshire residents. Eaton said planning ahead is the key to affording college, whether it鈥檚 staying on top of or setting up a payment plan.

鈥淔ederal financial aid is meant to be an assistance program. It鈥檚 not designed to pay for the full cost of education,鈥� said Eaton. 鈥淪tudents and families need to pull together more resources. There are resources out there, but it requires planning.鈥�

For Anna Buchar, who graduated from the 听in 2015, getting good grades and planning ahead has helped her cover nearly the entire cost of her 91制片厂 Manchester degree.

鈥淚 applied for every single scholarship I could my senior year in high school. Even after I graduated high school [Kearsarge Regional High School], I would go back to my guidance counselor鈥檚 office and I would find local scholarships and go on the ,鈥� Buchar said.

Each year, Buchar makes a list of the scholarships she is eligible for and creates a database of what application materials are needed and when they are due to stay organized. Then she sets aside time during school vacations to write and submit applications. Buchar has had some help from her parents and has taken out a few loans, but for the last two to three semesters, she鈥檚 had more than enough in scholarship money to cover tuition, she said.

Eaton said students should take advantage of the assistance at the Financial Aid Office. Without it, navigating financial aid can be overwhelming.

That鈥檚 what Naeleh Marin, a graduate of the , did when she was looking at colleges while in high school in Salem, N.H. After speaking with financial aid counselors, she found there were many ways to fund studies at 91制片厂 Manchester.

鈥淚 was looking for a school that had a good name and that also could allow me to pay for my school without getting any loans,鈥� said Marin.

Working full-time and going to 91制片厂 Manchester full-time, Marin was able to pay for her classes through a payment plan.

鈥淚t was really nice to graduate in May with no debt, even though I said no to a lot of things,鈥� she said.

For students who are worried about making college work, Eaton said 91制片厂 Manchester is an affordable option with people on staff who want to help.

鈥淚 tell them to come see me. Students who come see me get the most advice and attention,鈥� said Eaton.
听听

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO APPLY
91制片厂 Manchester offers the career-driven majors, faculty talent and student-centered community to reach your goals, without overreaching your budget.

This story was originally published in October 2014.