Adult Students
If you’ve never been to college, or started but never finished, this page is for you. Need to improve your skills or knowledge? Find a new career path?
To Do:
- Look into getting a General Educational Development (GED) certificate if you don’t have a high school diploma; try searching online for "GED certificate" and your state's name.
- Research careers and the need for various jobs in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco.
- Use the free College Matching Wizard at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/myfsa to find the right school for your career intentions.
- Check the yellow pages and ask employers to recommend trade schools that will train you in the skills you will need for the career you choose.
- Ask your employer whether there will be help to pay for school.
- Search www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/scholarship to find scholarships.
- Apply for federal student aid by following the guidance in “FAFSA Filing Time”.
- Get to know the financial aid staff at the school you plan to attend; they can help you with aid applications and explain the types of aid available.
To Explore:
- Ensure that you get your money’s worth out of your education by following the tips in these fact sheets at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/pubs:
- “Need Training for a Job?”
- “Choose a School Carefully”
- “Be an Informed Consumer...when it comes to federal student aid”
- Learn about federal funding for your education in Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/guide.
- Discover why federal student loans are a better option than private loans in “Why Get a Federal Student Loan?”.
- Use Your Federal Student Loans: Learn the Basics and Manage Your Debt at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/repayingpub to help you determine which loans to accept and how much to borrow.
- Read IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education to see how you might benefit from federal income tax credits for education expenses.
