You know you want to go to college, but that is about all you know. Being at the bottom of the collegiate mountain is full of possibility, and for some, a little bit of anxiety.

There is a lot to consider, but if you remain vigilant and make smart decisions you will be able to reach your goal of graduation and carry the excitement you had before you started, into the next phase, entering the workforce.

For many, what they will also carry with them post-graduation is the bill from their school of choice. Keep in mind how common student debt is, and that there is a benefit in that commonality, the benefit being options.

You can take out student loans from a private lender in order to pay or your education, and if you are wondering how much you can borrow, there is a resource.

Compare Your Options

This is not the time to have shiny ball syndrome, there are a lot of lenders out there and no shortage of advertisements for you to get sucked into using terms like ‘quick’ and ‘easy’ this is not the time for a hasty decision.

Shop around to find the lender that offers you the lowest interest rate and the most generous borrower perks and protections. Also, become familiar with student loan limits, and the factors that are involved in determining them.

A good rule of thumb though is that you typically cannot borrow more than your schools’ total cost of attendance, so if you are going to need money for things like housing, transportation, and even food allowances, you might need to also look elsewhere to cover some of your costs.

It's possible to calculate student debt repayments with a range of services including SoFi.

Use Grants if You Qualify

The federal government offers several types of grants, that do not need to be paid back. Use the internet and even your high school or college advisory department to search for available grant programs in your state that you might qualify for.

This money is designed to be given out to qualified applicants to assist with educational needs, and it costs you nothing to explore these options and apply. Aligned with the concept of utilizing grants to cover some of your costs is the option to get a work-study job.

This acts as somewhat of a barter system, where you are trading hours labored for financial aid. There will be eligibility requirements, as well as requirements of you time, but every little bit helps, and if you qualify for a work-study program, that will take care of a portion of your overall bill.

Tap Your Savings

Look at your own bank account and budget and see if it is even an option to pay out of pocket for some of your collegiate expenses.

Chances are, especially if you are planning to start college immediately after high school, that you won’t have enough to make this a viable option for covering large expenses, but look to your savings to cover some of the smaller, non-tuition related expenses.

Do you have enough available to buy a car outright so that you can eliminate a lease or loan payment? Do you have enough to cover your meal plan for on campus living?

Think about your total college bill in small pieces and recognize that paying for college piece by piece, and diversifying your payment strategies, is a good way to manage your finances and help you to not feel overwhelmed by the total cost of your college experience.