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These days, numerous options for paying college tuition abound. While some are more traditional and have been established for many years, others have been created only in recent years. Through all the changes and new options of how to pay for college, the one constant is that college tuition will increase as time goes by.

The following is a list of several options available for paying college tuition. Do your due diligence and research these as well as other opportunities for funding.

College Loans

A necessary evil for millions of college students, college loans provide funds for college that are to be paid back in a variety of plans. Currently, Sallie Mae is one of the premier companies for college loans. I've used them for my loan and they really seem to have their act together. Try a Google search under "college loan" for starters.

Two ideas to consider about college loans:

1) The interest on college loans can often be tax deductible, depending on the type of loan and how long you have the loan.

2) Be wary of the payment plan once you are ready to pay your loan back. The payment plan I chose started with low monthly payments for the first several years and the monthly note gradually increased over time. This made it handy as I wasn't making much money fresh out of school, but started making more money as my minimum monthly payments gradually increased.

529 Plans

These plans allow people the chance to set aside money in an account that must be used to pay tuition at an accredited university. While the money that is saved is taxable, the dividends paid on that saved money and the withdrawals are not taxable.

Scholarships

You may have options available to you in scholarships if you are gifted academically, athletically or perhaps artistically. Of the methods listed in this article for paying for college, earning scholarships arguably requires the most research. The reason for this is scholarship requirements can vary and many are only available through a particular college.

I was fortunate to get a band scholarship for college. While the scholarship did not nearly cover my tuition, it gave me some extra spending money.

Pell Grants

According to the website http://www.ed.gov/programs/fpg/index.html, "The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education."

You should certainly try to get a Pell Grant, if you believe you are even remotely close to qualifying. Some factors like the amount your family is "expected" to contribute towards your tuition, whether you attend school for a full year or not, your attendance status (full or part time), and others will determine if you are eligible.

I was never able to qualify for a Pell Grant as I was still living with my parents at the time I went to college, and therefore was considered financially supported by them. Again, keep Pell Grants at the top of your list, as this is money you don't need to pay back like you would a loan.

Among the uncertainty of college funding options, the principle of tuition rising remains constant. Do your due diligence and investigate the options listed here as well as options that may be available only in your home state. A college education is one of the best investments you can make. Researching the best funding options for college is a truly wise move.

Paul Heingarten is an entrepreneur, author and consultant. He owns several websites and has assisted business owners with website design and marketing. Take a look at http://www.prhsolutions.com/blog for his most recent updates.