How to Fund Your Education

Everyone’s financial situation is different, and attending college is a big financial decision for you and your family. It may seem overwhelming, but luckily, there are many options and resources to help you establish a financial plan and support you throughout your time at Temple University. Here, we lay out everything you need to know about paying for your undergraduate education. 

Students looking to continue their education can visit our graduate school website to learn more about financial aid and scholarships opportunities. 

There are several steps you can take to help pay for college before taking out student loans, such as submitting a FAFSA application and applying for scholarships and grants. You can also get a work-study job and explore savings plans to help lighten the financial impact of paying for college. 

Explore the different financial resources below to get started on developing your plan to pay for your education at Temple.

Apply to FAFSA

The first step you should take when figuring out how to pay for college is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA determines your eligibility for financial assistance like federal loans, grants, work-study benefits and even some merit-based aid. Even if you don’t expect to qualify for aid, it is important to fill out this form so that you know for sure and can accurately assess your financial situation and adjust your payment plan accordingly. 

If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen seeking financial aid, you must complete a FAFSA at fafsa.gov. Temple’s FAFSA code is 003371. 

After you submit your FAFSA, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report, which provides information about your federal aid eligibility and your responses to questions in the FAFSA.

Students must complete the FAFSA every year they’re enrolled in college. While you’re a student, Temple’s Student Financial Services hosts workshops to help coach you through the process each year.

Learn more about FAFSA requirements, important deadlines and types of aid you’re eligible for through FAFSA.

Apply to Scholarships

Scholarships offer money to students for college that does not need to be paid back. They often cover a specific achievement, area of study, interest or qualification, and are funded by many different providers. Examples of scholarship categories include academic, athletic, LGBTQIA+, military families, minority groups and more. Learn more about scholarship opportunities and resources at Temple. 

At Klein, we offer college and departmentwide scholarship opportunities to our talented and motivated students so they can access an excellent education, regardless of their background or means. Explore the different scholarships available through Klein College.

Additionally, students can discover multiple scholarships available to them through scholarship search engines, such as scholarships.com and fastweb.com, and identify ones that best match their qualifications. 

Like the FAFSA form, the sooner you apply for scholarships, the better. By applying early, you give yourself a better chance of receiving aid.

Apply to Grants If You Qualify

Applying for the FAFSA every year could lead to you earning certain grants, which like scholarships, do not need to be repaid. They may come in the form of private grants from your institution, federal funds like the Pell Grant or state funds.

The Pell Grant is the largest federal grant program for undergraduates and is awarded to students who demonstrate financial need to help them pay for college. The amount varies depending on full- or part-time student status, the cost of your school and the duration of your studies.
Learn more about the types of grants available through Temple.

Get a Work-study Job

Federal work-study is a federal grant that provides part-time jobs for students with financial need. Students can use the money earned from the work-study program to pay for nonbillable educational expenses. 

Work-study jobs can be either on or off campus. To be eligible, students must be officially hired in an authorized work-study position at Temple University. 

To qualify for federal work-study, students must meet the following requirements.

• Have filed a current and complete FAFSA application with no outstanding requirements.
• Be an enrolled and matriculated student (nonmatriculated students do not qualify).
• Have an “unmet need” to qualify based on the FAFSA application.
• Be eligible for Title IV (federal) aid to qualify for federal work-study. 

Students can only work up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and up to 40 hours per week during the summer session if they have enough work-study funding to cover their wages. Ultimately, the number of hours you are eligible to work per semester is based on your work-study allocation for that semester. 

If you have any questions about work-study or want to request to be reviewed for work-study, please send an email to [click-for-email]. 
Learn more about federal work-study opportunities at Temple.

529 Savings Plan

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future education costs. The 529 program offers two different savings plans. The PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan is a lower-risk plan that helps your savings keep pace with rising higher education tuition. The PA 529 Investment Plan lets you choose from several investment options from The Vanguard Group. 
Learn more about the 529 plans and how to set up your plan with Temple.

Tapping into Savings

While the above payment options are extremely beneficial when paying for college, students and their families will need to tap into their savings to pay for other college-related expenses. 

According to research conducted at Sallie Mae, “very few families—only 10%—paid for the entire cost of college out of pocket. Everyone else is either borrowing or using a combination of resources.” This is why it’s important to start saving early and maximize compound interest. 

Use a college savings calculator to determine how much you need to invest and when you need to start investing for your college education.

Take out Federal Loans

If you’ve exhausted all of your other options for getting money to pay for college, consider borrowing federal student loans. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. Federal loans, which are issued by the government, are categorized into two types for undergraduate students: direct subsidized (based on financial need) and direct unsubsidized (not based on financial need). Federal loans include many benefits, such as fixed interest rates and income-driven repayment plans, but they do have annual and lifetime limits, putting a cap on how much you can get through federal loans alone.

It is important to explore the federal student loan options before committing to private student loans, as private student loans are typically more expensive than federal student loans.
Learn more about the differences between federal and private student loans.

Borrow from Private Loans

Private student loans are provided by banks, credit unions and private lenders. With private student loans you can borrow up to 100% of your cost of attendance, which can include fees and tuition, room and board, and other college costs. However, each private loan has different terms, so it’s crucial that you compare your private student loan options to ensure you’re getting the best offer.

While private loans are typically considered a last resort option for paying for your college education, if you’ve exhausted your allotment of federal student loans, they can be a much better option than higher-interest options like credit cards and personal loans.
Learn more about private student loans.

How We Can Help

Temple and Klein are committed to making college more affordable and accessible for our students. We have numerous resources available to help guide you through your financial plan to pay for your college education.