How do I pay for my daughter's college?

While wages for most Americans have been stagnant or declining for the last decade the cost of college has been increasing much faster than inflation. As a result fewer and fewer parents can afford to pay their kid’s way through college.

You might be able to save some money by having your daughter take her first year or two at community college. Living at home can save a lot of money. Also the tuition and fees at community college tend to be less than at 4 year colleges. In my experience low level classes are often taught as well or better at community college than at universities; at universities these courses are often taught by unmotivated teaching assistants.

Look into scholarships. Are any of these available through your work, church, etc? If your income and assets aren’t too high Pell grants can be a big help.

I’m not that sold on student loans. I never took out any. i worked full time and took a class or two a semester until I graduated. It took 12 years but I graduated without any debts hanging over my head. A neice of mine took out loans for college and after graduating the best job she has been able to find has been working at a day care. She can barely pay her share of her apartment (she has a roomate) let alone pay back any of her loan.