One of the most common ways to cover a large chunk of your college expenses is having your parents pay for it. Parents pay out of college savings accounts or direct incomes to help their children get through school This option may not be available to all students based on family financial situations, but it is by far the most common way in which college tuition is paid for in the United States.
Student loans are available from both the federal government and local loan agencies. Loans can cover a large chunk of your tuition and expenses, but must be paid back over time and will accrue interest during the time in which they carry a balance. Most graduating college students carry some amount of student loan debt, though the actual amount hinges on their level of education and how much help they had from other sources.
If you need to pay for school but your parents cannot help, you can always try getting a job. Thousands of students have part-time or full-time jobs while attending university and use the money they make to help cover gaps in housing, tuition and food. An easier method for executing this is working during the summer and saving your money so you can use it during the school year.
Grants and scholarships are similar to loans in that they come from a third party. However, grants and scholarships usually do not have to be repaid. Students can apply for federal grants via the Federal Application for Student Aid, and what they don't earn there they can often find in private organizations. Many scholarships are given because of some sort of achievement in high school including excellent academic performance, sports participation or just winning an essay writing competition.