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College students in America are facing some tough financial times. With millions of parents losing their jobs as a result of the recession, more students are reliant upon financial aid. This means that there are fewer funds available per student than there were about 10 years ago.

With fewer financial funds to rely upon, families will have to figure out inventive ways to pay for school. However, this doesn't mean it can't be done.

A few ideas to consider for paying to college are:

• Apply for Scholarships

A great way to combat the lack of financial aid funds available this year or next year is to apply for as many scholarships as possible. There are still tons of scholarships out there ready to be snatched up by the most qualified students, so it doesn't hurt to see how many you can rack up to pay for school. But of course, many families will be thinking the same thing, which means scholarships will be more competitive than ever. Don't let that stop you though.

• Start at a Community College

Some families may be dead set on sending their offspring to a great university, but with times changing drastically, it may simply be unrealistic to try to pay the astronomical costs that come with paying for tuition. Consider the community colleges in your area that offer 2-year educations for thousands of dollars less than the state or private universities. After spending two years at the community college, you can transfer to a 4-year university. That way you only have to spend another 2 years at the 4 year university and save thousands of dollars. Plus while there, you could also try to qualify for more financial aid and scholarships as well.

• Attend a Local University and Live at Home

If you truly would rather go to a 4 year university then you may want to consider applying at local universities and live at home. This way you can at least cut costs for room and board, which will save you lots of money.

Unfortunately, the recession is very real to many families and play a huge role in how many students are able to attend college this fall semester or upcoming spring semester, or even up to the following school year. So take steps to apply for financial aid as soon as you can before your name is at the bottom of the waiting list. Also try to think of ways to make the financial aide money stretch, so that you can make sure a desired education is not lost on financial woes.

Going back to school can be both rewarding and troubling; rewarding because you're acquiring an education that can help you excel in your career, and troubling because of how expensive it can be. It's pretty difficult for students going back to school to avoid incurring some type of student loan debt along the way, which makes many people wonder, is the debt worth the education?

Well, according to a 2007 College Board Study, Education Pays, individuals with a bachelor's degree earn at least 60% more than those with only a high school diploma. As the years progress, it is said that those with a bachelor's degree will eventually earn $800,000 more than their counterparts with only a high school education. This beats out the debt that the average student is set to incur, which is said to cap out at $29,000 for undergraduates.

In other words, the debt appears to be worth it. Of course, this doesn't mean that having to pay back loans is going to be fun. But if you play your cards right, you may not have to go into as much debt as you think - in many cases, not at all. A few ways that you can work around taking out expensive loans are:

• Ask your employer if they offer a tuition assistance program that might help you pay for school.
• Apply for school-funded and private scholarships.
• If you're in graduate school, look into internships and fellowship programs that might pay the full tuition.

If you successfully apply your education to your career of choice, then the debt you incur when going back to school is well worth it. But if you can find a way to avoid going into debt at all then you are already on top.

When you make a major life decision such as going back to school, it's not something that you should do in haste. If there are other aspects of your life to consider, such as work and home, then it is important that you carefully organize your world so that it all meshes well together.

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