You took the first step towards getting a college education when you received that fat acceptance letter in the mail. The next hurdle is actually paying for it!

On top of passing their exams and writing papers, students also need to master the process of getting enough financial aid to pay for their schooling. Sure, the prospect of receiving thousands of dollars in tuition bills and loans is a bit scary, but you shouldn’t let that deter you from getting your education! A college degree is definitely a career-enhancer, and paying for school can be completely feasible if you play your cards right.

Here are some things that you can do to help cover your education costs:

Study, study, study. Yes, your parents got this one right! The better grades and test scores you have, the better your chances are of receiving more aid from your school. Many schools offer full-tuition scholarships to students who have good grades and test scores. Students can benefit from great merit-scholarships—all you have to do is study!

Apply to more than one school. If you apply to several schools, you have a better chance of getting your ideal financial aid package. When you receive several offers of admission from multiple colleges, you can compare their financial aid packages and then pick the one that offers you the most money.

Fill out the FAFSA. The FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is one of the most effective ways to get financial aid from the government. Even if you aren’t qualified to receive a grant, the FAFSA will allow most students to take advantage of low-interest Stafford Loans.

Do your taxes! Lots of people miss out on opportunities to collect more money from the government. In fact, nearly 20% of parents and students end up paying too much tax money because they neglected to take advantage of educational deductions. Remember, don’t pass up the chance to get some extra money in your pocket!

Ask about tuition reimbursement. Many employers and companies will help to front the cost of your education. Depending on your firm, some industries will even cover your children!
Look into loans. Federal programs like the Stafford and Perkins loans are definitely worth investigating. Federal loans are generally low-interest and low-priced, and are a good option for many students. But remember—you will have to pay these loans back after graduation, so be careful how much money you borrow!

Getting your college education shouldn’t mean that you have to make painful sacrifices in order to pay for it! You just need to do a little homework before you sign your first tuition check.