How can I avoid taking out loans?

Scholarships (outside the university and at the university). There are so many available scholarships at the university of your choosing that students end up no taking advantage of. Why? Because they didn't know it existed. You just have to know how to find them (visit your financial office).

Work study programs at your school.

Internships/Co-ops Programs

Also, when you do apply for financial aid, and your school gives you a residual check, DO NOT spend it. Please get with a financial advisor who can instruct you where to put that money (mutal fund, etc). This way YOU are making money off of it and when you graduate you don't have that extra debit looming over your head.

I hope this helps! Good luck on everything :)!!

If you are dorming, I would recommend becoming a Resident Assistant (RA). I saved 7k a year because I received free housing as a benefit of working for Residential Life on campus.

Apply for scholarships and try to get paid internships every summer. Also, you could work part time while you are getting your degree. I did it!

This is for scholarships:

http://www.collegedata.com/cs/search/scholar/scholar_search_tmpl.jhtml
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search
http://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships

This is for internships:

http://www.internships.com/
https://www.looksharp.com/

I highly (HIGHLY!) encourage you to try every avenue of not getting into any debt. Everyone tells you it’s impossible, but it can be done. I got out of debt by following the Dave Ramsey plan, and although student loans were not one of my personal issues, he does take a special interest in avoiding student loan debt.

Check out these resources:

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/5-things-your-teenager-needs-to-know-before-college

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/student-loan-backlash

https://www.daveramsey.com/store/kids-teens/the-graduate-survival-guide/prodgsg.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YWxucdbltE

Lastly, I don’t agree with every element of his teaching (i.e., there is a religious bent that I avoid), it would be a mistake to discount his overall plan—it totally works. It certainly did for me. :-)

Best of luck!!