Alternatives to Student Loans Without a Credit Check
- Grants and scholarships do not have to be paid back. They are available from many sources, including individual colleges and college departments, all levels of government and private organizations (such as nonprofits and corporations, for example). Get started by filling out and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 31 as possible. Federal, state and college deadlines for the FAFSA vary, so meet the earliest deadline. Many grants and scholarships require you to submit the FAFSA before applying for them to help determine your eligibility.
- In some instances, you may be able to receive a tuition waiver. This is not a grant or scholarship to help you pay for tuition and fees. Instead, the college offers you an opportunity to pay nothing for your education. For example, Texas allows educational aides pursuing a degree to become a teacher to take advantage of a tuition waiver at any public college or university in the state.
- Your employer may also offer a tuition assistance program in which it pays for part or even all of your college education. In exchange, you agree to continue working for the employer for a specific period of time after you graduate. Your employer may require you to meet guidelines such as maintaining a certain GPA or completing your course to keep receiving funds to pay for college.
- Saving money to pay for your college expenses is another way to avoid a credit check, although you will likely have to take more time to finish college. You can pay for a semester at a time, working between semesters to put aside some extra money. Attend a community college for your first two years to help you keep down your total tuition bill if you are working toward a four-year degree. Consider a two-year program at a community or vocational college as an alternative to a bachelor's degree to help you find a job in a shorter period of time.
