Get a government-backed student loan. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. This application uses your family income to determine your eligibility for government student loans. If eligible, you can apply for Stafford loans (and PLUS loans for parents) from the government to help cover your college education each year that you are in school. You can borrow up to a maximum of around $12,500 per school year (the amount sometimes changes) with a Stafford loan, depending on your school program. The loan interest rates are low compared to what you will receive by going directly to a bank.
Apply for a government grant for your postsecondary education. Pell grants are federal grants offered to students in financial need who are going into an undergraduate program. Your eligibility for the Pell grant is also determined by your FAFSA application. (The maximum Pell grant is around $4,000 to $5,000 per school year; this number sometimes changes.)
Apply for scholarships. There are a variety of scholarship programs for postsecondary education that are targeted to students of certain backgrounds and majors. For example, Coca-Cola gives out scholarships of as much as $20,000 to 250 exceptional students every year. See "Resources" below for a link to the Fastweb search for scholarships. Just enter your location, interests, major and any other pertinent details to find scholarships you qualify for.
Ask your student financial aid office about private education loans. Some schools guarantee special loan programs for independent students who cannot get funding elsewhere to cover their college expenses.
Ask your parents or relatives to contribute to your postsecondary education expenses. Present them with your grades and your college acceptance letter to make your case stronger.
Find a part-time or full-time job the summer before college to help pay your first semester's tuition. Also apply for jobs near your college before you start classes so that you will have a job lined up. Apply a portion of your checks to your tuition bill. Many postsecondary schools also have work-study programs. Your eligibility is determined by your FAFSA form.