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For most families, the question is not whether college is worth it. It is how to pay for it. No one wants to drain savings or take on debt that follows a student for decades. Here is the good news. A two-year college is one of the most affordable ways to start a degree. Most families pay far less than the published price. At Lackawanna College, which serves students across Northeastern Pennsylvania, nearly 95% of the student body receives some form of financial aid. This guide walks through every major way to pay, in the order a family should work through them.

Start With the FAFSA — Every Dollar Runs Through It

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the front door to almost every kind of aid. That means federal grants, state grants, federal student loans, and many scholarships. It is free to file at studentaid.gov. It must be filed every year the student is enrolled.

When you fill out the FAFSA, you list the schools that should get your information. Lackawanna College’s federal school code is 003283.

Two tips apply to nearly every family. First, file early. Some aid programs have hard deadlines, and filing early keeps every option open. Second, file even if you think you earn too much. There is no income cutoff for filing. The FAFSA is also required for federal student loans and many scholarships, not just need-based grants. The Lackawanna College financial aid office reviews each student’s case once the FAFSA arrives.

Key Takeaway: The FAFSA is free, has no income cutoff, and unlocks nearly every form of aid. File it early every year with Lackawanna College’s school code 003283.

Federal Grants: Money You Don’t Pay Back

Grants are the best kind of aid. You never pay them back. The largest is the Federal Pell Grant. The award depends on the family’s finances, the cost of attendance, and full-time or part-time status. Students apply just by filing the FAFSA. There is no separate Pell form.

Students with high financial need may also receive the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). When a student qualifies, it is added to the aid package on its own. Details on both programs are on Lackawanna’s federal and state grants page.

Key Takeaway: The Pell Grant and FSEOG are free money, and the FAFSA is the only application. There is no separate form for either grant.

The PA State Grant: Pennsylvania’s Own Program

Pennsylvania residents get a second layer of grant money: the PA State Grant. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) runs it. To be considered, a student must live in Pennsylvania and take at least six credits. That is half-time enrollment for at least 15 weeks. Students must keep up satisfactory academic progress to get the grant again. There are also limits on remedial and repeated credits.

Deadlines matter here. Per Lackawanna’s federal and state grants page, returning and transfer students must apply by May 1. First-time freshmen have until August 1. Veterans get preference, and income is usually not counted in their awards. Students from a few other states may bring their own state’s grant with them after filing the FAFSA. Delaware, Ohio, and West Virginia are examples.

Key Takeaway: File the FAFSA early every year at studentaid.gov using Lackawanna College’s school code 003283. It unlocks the Pell Grant, FSEOG, and the PA State Grant — money that never has to be repaid.

Scholarships at Lackawanna College

Scholarships stack on top of grants. They do not need to be repaid either. Lackawanna College awards a range of merit and financial aid scholarships in varying amounts, in five groups:

• New student scholarships — merit and financial aid awards for first-time freshmen and transfer students.
• Returning student scholarships — for students continuing their studies.
• Presidential scholarships — the college’s premium merit-based awards.
• Athletic scholarships — for student-athletes.
• Fellowships — additional funding opportunities.

Amounts and rules vary. So the right move is to review the scholarships page and ask the admissions office which awards fit your student. Families should also spend an evening searching outside scholarships. Employers, unions, community groups, and local foundations in Northeastern Pennsylvania all award them. Smaller local awards often have far less competition than national ones.

Key Takeaway: Lackawanna College awards scholarships in five categories, and outside scholarships stack on top. Local awards are often easier to win than national ones.

Payment Plans and Employer Help

Even after grants and scholarships, most families have a balance left. It does not have to be paid in one lump sum. Lackawanna College offers an interest-free monthly automatic payment plan to qualifying students. It is managed through the Student Portal. Monthly payments keep college in reach for families paying out of current income. And because the plan is interest-free, it costs nothing extra.

Does a parent’s or student’s employer offer tuition help? Lackawanna also accepts employer deferment. With a completed Employer Deferment Form signed by the employer, tuition payment can wait while the benefit is processed. Fees and any tuition the employer does not cover are still due by the semester due date. Details on both options are on the student accounts page. The Office of Student Financial Services can walk you through setup at (570) 961-7859 or financialservices@lackawanna.edu.

Key Takeaway: Grants and scholarships come first, but the gap that remains can be split into interest-free monthly payments — or deferred while an employer’s tuition benefit pays its share.

Military Families: GI Bill® and Veteran Benefits

For veterans, service members, and their families, military benefits can cover a big part of college costs. Lackawanna College accepts GI Bill® benefits and takes part in the Yellow Ribbon Program through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It has been named a Military Friendly School since 2010.

The process has three steps. Apply to Lackawanna College. Apply for education benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Then submit the Certificate of Eligibility to the Office of Student Financial Services. The college has a dedicated veterans advisor and a school certifying official on staff. There is also a Veterans’ Lounge in Angeli Hall on the Scranton campus. Start at the veteran applications page.

Key Takeaway: Lackawanna College accepts GI Bill® benefits, joins the Yellow Ribbon Program, and has been a Military Friendly School since 2010. A veterans advisor helps with every step.

Student Loans: Borrow Last, and Borrow Federal First

Loans have their place — at the end of the list. After grants, scholarships, military benefits, and a payment plan, some families still have a gap. A modest federal student loan can close it in a responsible way. Federal Direct Loans come through the same FAFSA the family already filed. They carry protections private loans usually lack, like income-driven repayment options.

Private (alternative) loans exist too. They should be a last resort after federal options are used. Lackawanna’s federal and alternative loans page explains what is available. The rule for parents is simple. Borrow only what the aid stack does not cover, and use the free money first.

Key Takeaway: Borrow last, and borrow federal first. Federal Direct Loans carry protections private loans usually lack, and the FAFSA you already filed covers the application.

Know Your Real Cost Before You Decide

Published tuition is a starting point, not a bill. To see what your family would pay, do two things. First, review the current tuition and fees. Second, run Lackawanna’s net price calculator. It estimates your out-of-pocket cost after aid, based on your family’s real numbers. Fifteen minutes with the calculator beats any published price sheet.

Once your student applies and files the FAFSA, the college sends a financial aid award letter. It lists each grant, scholarship, and loan offered. Read it line by line. Treat grants and scholarships differently from loans. The first two are free money. The last one has to be paid back.

A Simple Plan for Parents

Here is the whole guide as an order of operations:

1. File the FAFSA at studentaid.gov with school code 003283 — early, and every year.
2. Apply for the PA State Grant before the deadline for your student’s situation.
3. Apply for Lackawanna College scholarships and search local outside scholarships.
4. Claim military benefits if your family has earned them, starting with the GI Bill®.
5. Set up the interest-free payment plan (or employer deferment) for what remains.
6. Borrow federal loans last, and only for the gap.

When you are ready, request information to connect with the admissions team. Applying is the step that turns a financial aid estimate into a real award letter. And if any step feels confusing, call the Office of Student Financial Services. Helping families through this process is their job. No question is too basic.

Families can also connect with Lackawanna College on LinkedIn or follow the college’s YouTube channel for student stories and campus updates.

Key Takeaway: Work the stack in order — FAFSA, grants, scholarships, military benefits, payment plan, loans last. Most families who follow that order pay far less than the published price.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I pay for college?
Work through the funding sources in order. File the FAFSA first, since it unlocks federal grants, state grants, and federal loans. Then apply for the PA State Grant if you live in Pennsylvania. Apply for school and local scholarships, and claim military benefits if you have earned them. Use an interest-free payment plan for the remaining balance. Federal student loans should come last, and only for whatever gap is left.

Does my family need to file the FAFSA even if we probably won’t qualify for grants?
Yes. There is no income cutoff for filing the FAFSA. It is also required for more than need-based grants — federal student loans and many scholarships require it too. Filing is free at studentaid.gov, and Lackawanna College’s federal school code is 003283.

Who qualifies for the PA State Grant?
The PA State Grant is for Pennsylvania residents enrolled in at least six credits. That is half-time enrollment for at least 15 weeks. Students must keep up satisfactory academic progress to receive it in later years. There are limits on remedial and repeated coursework. Deadlines listed by Lackawanna College are May 1 for returning and transfer students and August 1 for first-time freshmen.

Does Lackawanna College offer scholarships?
Yes. Lackawanna College awards a range of merit and financial aid scholarships in varying amounts. There are five groups: new student scholarships, returning student scholarships, Presidential scholarships, athletic scholarships, and fellowships. Amounts and rules vary. Families should review the scholarships page and contact the admissions office about which awards fit their student.

Can we pay tuition monthly instead of all at once?
Yes. Lackawanna College offers an interest-free monthly automatic payment plan to qualifying students, managed through the Student Portal. Students whose employers offer tuition help can also defer payment with a completed Employer Deferment Form. Fees and any tuition the employer does not cover are still due by the semester due date.

Does Lackawanna College accept GI Bill® benefits?
Yes. Lackawanna College accepts GI Bill® benefits, takes part in the Yellow Ribbon Program through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and has been named a Military Friendly School since 2010. Veterans apply to the college, apply for education benefits through the VA, and submit their Certificate of Eligibility to the Office of Student Financial Services.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).