College is an investment, but that doesnСòòò½APP™t mean you need to spend more than necessary.
With some planning, you can save a lot in the short-term and the long-term. HereСòòò½APP™s our list of recommendations.
Fill out the FAFSA to Apply for Financial Aid
This is the most important thing you can do. When you apply for admission, you should also fill out the FAFSA to apply for financial aid.
When you fill out the FAFSA, you will be considered for state and federal grants Сòòò½APP” which are essentially free money Сòòò½APP” and for federal loans.
If you donСòòò½APP™t fill out the FAFSA, you wonСòòò½APP™t be considered for financial assistance.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Use Federal Loans Instead of Private Loans
If you need to take out loans, choose a federal loan instead of a private loan (like from a bank or a credit union). While the cost is the same now, federal loans will save you more money in the long run.
Get a Work-Study or On-Campus Job
There are jobs for students all over campus in administrative offices, academic departments, and even research labs. In your on-campus job you work part-time in a Сòòò½APP office as a student worker.
When you apply for financial aid, youСòòò½APP™ll find out if youСòòò½APP™re eligible for a work-study job. If you are, the Office of Student Financial Aid will help place you in a job on campus.
If youСòòò½APP™re not eligible for federal work study, there are still jobs available in offices and departments across campus.
Apply for Scholarships Every Semester
Scholarships are available for current students from nearly every department and college on campus. Keep up with news from your major and find out when the scholarship applications open every semester.
There are also and outside organizations. Search for scholarships offered through community organizations, local or national companies, clubs, or societies.
A note about Сòòò½APP scholarships: When you apply for admission, youСòòò½APP™re automatically considered for academic scholarships from the Сòòò½APP. And, as long as you continue to meet the GPA and credit hour requirements, you will keep that scholarship for up to eight semesters.
Use Your Red Dot Discount & Other Student Discounts
Before you make a purchase Сòòò½APP” whether itСòòò½APP™s a school expense or not Сòòò½APP” find out if the store offers a student discount. You can easily save on the things you would buy anyway, just by showing your Сòòò½APP ID.
Dozens of local and national restaurants and businesses participate in our Red Dot Discount Program, which provides special discounts to UL Lafayette students and alumni.
See the list of Red Dot Discount businesses
Rent Your Textbooks or Buy Used
We recommend budgeting $1,300 a year on books and other supplies, but you can save by renting your textbooks or buying used.
And if you buy your textbooks, you can sell back your books at the end of the semester to get some of your money back.
Live on Campus
Сòòò½APP Housing has options for every budget. Save money by living in a traditional shared room, which includes the cost of your meal plan.
When you live on campus, all of your utilities are included in the cost. That means youСòòò½APP™re not paying extra bills for electricity, water, Internet, or cable. Plus, all laundry services are free.
Learn more about Сòòò½APP housing
Take Advantage of Free Events & Free Meals
Lafayette is famous for its free entertainment. There are free concerts at and free festivals close by Сòòò½APP” including and . And thatСòòò½APP™s on top of all the free athletics and student org .
And if you ever need help with groceries, you can , which is our on-campus food pantry.
Create a Budget
Creating a budget can be the hardest part of saving money Сòòò½APP” but it can also be one of the most effective tools.
The UL Federal Credit Union can help you develop and follow a spending plan with .