by Len Di Gregorio

Created on: February 23, 2010

One nontraditional way to pay for college is to actually get a job! No, not a job in the traditional sense, so to speak, but obtaining a job at the college or university your son or daughter will be attending. Set aside all logistical concerns for a moment, and assume that it is feasible for your child to attend a school that is in commuting distance for yourself. Then further this equation (and logic) and assume that this higher education institution will be in parallel to the interests and liking of the perspective student, a.k.a. – your child. This leaves one other major stumbling block in the equation – finding a position in this school that will meet both your financial needs and career objectives. Achieving these aforementioned objectives will potentially eliminate much of the financial burden of paying for this education. Why? Because many colleges and universities will offer tuition reimbursement – partial or full, in exchange for you, the parent, to be employed by them. 

Nearly two-thirds of college freshmen will not have chosen a major, and 55%-65% of college students change their majors at least once in their college careers, according to research compiled by www.learnmoreindiana.org.Additionally, many kids are unsure of what career path to pursue. When you now plug these statistics into the above “equation,” it may make perfect sense for your child to attend a business or liberal arts school. Why is this significant? Because there are many such colleges in existence - over 540 liberal arts schools in the USA - which theoretically present many more choices and opportunities for you and your child. And most likely there is such a school in the vicinity of which you reside.  

In many colleges and universities that offer such financial assistance, it is irrelevant of the type of job you accept. It is common for the janitor to reap the same benefits as a professor, the VP of HR, or even the Provost. And, in many circumstances, you can even be employed part-time. Flexibility, then, is abundant, if you are looking for a specific salary range, rather than a particular title or position. Should you accept a lesser job than you are capable of, or qualified for, consider the benefit of free or assisted financial aid, by having all or part of your tuition bill paid for by the institution, coupled with any additional benefits they may offer, such as health insurance, vacation and holiday pay. And those summer months off can be utilized by working elsewhere, to augment your family's income.  

Colleges and universities need employees, students attend classes, and tuition bills must be paid. If a family can combine their efforts, these tasks can be achieved simultaneously, with everyone in the equation benefitting from their collective efforts. 

With this type of nontraditional means to pay for college, you will have obtained much needed tuition assistance, and the peace of mind that comes with the realization that you are in close proximity to both your child’s future and their physical whereabouts, which could have significant importance to a seventeen or eighteen year old who is still trying to figure it all out. And it’s impossible to come up with an equation for that.

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