10 alternatives to college
Sometimes an apprenticeship or boot camp is a better choice than a four-year degree.
You have a world of options at your fingertips when it comes to paying down your loans. Knowing what they are is the key to becoming debt-free.
— Hanneh Bareham
Hanneh Bareham, a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, is a former Bankrate personal finance writer. She started as a credit cards reporter before transitioning into the role of student loans reporter. She is now a writer on the loans team, further widening her scope across multiple forms of consumer lending.
She has been featured in multiple national and regional media outlets, including Yahoo, CNBC, Business Insider, The Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Times and more. Her desire to empower borrowers comes from her own experiences as a college graduate managing her finances during a tumultuous economic climate. She aims to help others reach their goals through a better understanding of macroeconomic trends.
When she's not checking her repayment strategies with a loan calculator, Hanneh enjoys acting, baking and trying to find the best cup of coffee on the East Coast.
When it comes to taking out any sort of installment loan or repayment plan, it's so important to know exactly what you're signing up for. Before applying, read the terms and conditions or find the basic loan details — like interest rate ranges and repayment terms — on the lender's website to make sure you're doing what's best for your finances.
You have a world of options at your fingertips when it comes to paying down your loans. Knowing what they are is the key to becoming debt-free.
— Hanneh Bareham
Sometimes an apprenticeship or boot camp is a better choice than a four-year degree.
If you’re in graduate school, search for programs that offer stipends or salaries.
Current student loans news for 6/21/2024
Scholarships aren’t just for high school seniors; college students can also benefit.
The interest rate alone doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story about what you owe.
Weigh applying for a loan online vs. in person before you dive in.
Explore the different forms of credit repair to decide which is best for you.
There are plenty of veteran-specific benefits that can reduce the cost of college.