College texts can costs hundreds of dollars themselves. It isn't a bad idea to search for used versions of required texts. Be very cautious, though, when buying certain used books. If you are going to purchase the books online, you are taking a chance at receiving a book with missing pages, or missing supplemental materials, such as CD's and additional workbooks. Also, when looking for used books, be sure you identify the actual ISBN of the required text. Many scholastic texts have very similar, if not identical titles, and furthermore, many of them have several editions.
Don't count out the job market. If a student expresses an affinity for a specific profession, there may be a way for her to earn tuition assistance through the employer. Though she might not start out at the desired position, she can gain experience in the company while garnering a college degree at their expense.
Summary
Financial aid and scholarships are available for all students, though the degree of assistance depends on a number of circumstances. Aside from the traditional routes of funding a college degree, testing, and dual enrollment programs can greatly offset the costs of a college degree while giving a student a head-start on that degree. The most important thing anyone can do to decrease the costs of an education is to become knowledgeable of all the available resources. Be sure to talk with financial advisors to find out what types of programs are available to students. Many resources go unused simply because people are not aware that they are available.
A college education is not impossible, no matter what the financial situation of the student is.