How to pay for college [Video]

Key takeaways

• A college degree has never cost more in the United States, and cost is one of the reasons 1.2 million fewer students enrolled in college over the last decade.
• Experts from organizations in Wells Fargo’s National Diverse Scholarship Portfolio believe prospective students can find ways to pay for college by seeking private scholarships and better understanding financial aid.
• Four-year colleges are important, but technical colleges that teach trades and vocations can also be paths for students to earn good-paying jobs.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is clear: A combination of rising prices and inflation has made college more expensive than ever.

The cost of tuition at public four-year institutions has risen for decades, with the average student and their family paying more than $30,000 per year in 2022 – 2023. Many barriers make it difficult for people from all walks of life to attend college, but …