Financing a college education is one of the biggest challenges facing many young people today. Though FAFSA and federal student loans can go a long way toward offsetting the cost of tuition, they are often insufficient. Here are four ways you can supplement your student loans and FAFSA to make up the difference.

Apply for All Available Scholarships

Many prospective students fail to apply for scholarships on the assumption that their grades aren’t high enough or they lack the extracurricular qualifications needed to compete for them. The truth, however, is that there are thousands upon thousands of different scholarships out there that practically any student can take advantage of. If you are trying to finance your college years, you should be applying for any and all scholarships you think might be applicable to you. Even small scholarships represent that much more money you won’t have to pay yourself. Start with local service organizations, many of which have scholarship programs, as they tend to be less competitive than large, nationwide scholarship organizations.

Consider Transferring to a Less Expensive School

College tuition can range from a few thousand dollars to well over $50,000, depending on the school you attend. If you’re struggling to pay for your tuition, consider transferring to a school that offers lower pricing. Though it may not be your first choice, pursuing your degree at a cheaper school can leave you with fewer debt obligations when you enter the working world. Make sure, however, that any school you transfer to has an equivalent program and will accept any credits you’ve already earned.

Approach Family Members

Though it can feel a little awkward to ask relatives for money, you might be surprised by how many of your family members are willing to help you pay for some of your tuition. Grandparents are often the best place to start, as they no longer have the expense of raising children to deal with. Make sure you only ask for what you absolutely need and that you do everything you can to make up your tuition shortfall yourself before asking relatives for money. If possible, try to borrow smaller amounts of money from multiple relatives, rather than asking one person for everything you need. This will keep the burden on your family members relatively small.

Take out a Private Loan

In some cases, your only option will be to take out a private sector loan to cover your tuition needs. Although such a loan will come with a higher interest rate than a federal student loan, taking one out is usually the easiest way to make up a large difference between the money you have and the cost of tuition at your chosen college. If you do plan on taking out a large loan, you may need a parent or other family member to cosign for you, as most students entering college haven’t had the chance to build up a good credit history yet.

If you need a smaller amount, you can also consider payday loans, like those from Power Finance Texas in Houston. These small loans are secured by your own paycheck and are generally short-term. You should only take out a payday loan if you have a reliable job that will allow you to pay it back in short order. If it will take you more than a few paychecks to get your loan paid off, you should opt for a more traditional loan that will come with a lower interest rate.

Paying for college is a difficult process, but these four tips can help you bridge the gap between what you can get in FAFSA and federal loans and what your college is charging for tuition. However you pay for college, be sure to work hard to earn your degree as quickly as possible. Taking extra years can substantially increase the total cost of your education and leave you with more debt to pay back later.