Oklahoma Money Matters

With student loan repayments resuming May 5, 2025, many people are left wondering if completing their education will be a possibility. Students begin school with the best of intentions, but then life happens. Unfortunately, between events like getting married, having kids or focusing on a career, time has passed and earning your college degree gets lost in the shuffle. By the time you decide to go back to school, you may feel you’ve lost too much time or any advantage you might have had when you were younger. Luckily, it’s not too late; earning your degree is an achievable goal. Below are some college financing options you may want to explore.

• File your FAFSA. Regardless of your financial circumstances, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form helps determine your eligibility for federal grants, student loans and work-study programs. Completing the FAFSA is the first step in the financial aid process for every family because many state scholarships require a completed FAFSA and colleges and universities use it to determine institutional aid eligibility, too. The new filing date for the 2026-2027 FAFSA is Oct. 1, 2025. Visit FAFSA.gov to begin.
• Employer reimbursement. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs as an employee benefit. Often these programs have eligibility requirements, like selecting a degree field that relates to your job, maintaining a certain grade point average (GPA) or working for the company for a particular amount of time. It’s worth checking with your Human Resources department to see if it’s an option. If you’re unemployed or thinking of making a career change, add "tuition reimbursement program" to your career search criteria. Check out our list of Oklahoma organizations that currently offer employer tuition assistance.
• Tribal membership benefits. Most Native American tribes offer some sort of educational or college assistance program. Many, but not all, of these programs may require you to agree to work for the tribe for a specific time upon completion of your degree. If you’re Native American, search your tribe’s website or contact the Bureau of Indian Education for specific details.
• Military benefits. Most military branches provide college tuition assistance through several programs, such as Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness programs. Some of these benefits can even be extended to the spouse or children of military service members.
• Apprenticeships allow a company to pay for college or trade school tuition and offer the student a salary. The student must complete several field work hours determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. Learn more about apprenticeships on the U.S. Department of Labor’s website.
• In-demand jobs. Some schools and companies offer aid to individuals who pursue fields that are considered “in demand.” Examples include nursing, teaching, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related programs and social work. Explore opportunities for tuition coverage through national programs like Teach for America and the National Institutes of Health. Many hospitals will also cover college and training expenses if the student contracts to work for them for a specific amount of time.
• Tuition waivers. Many colleges offer tuition waivers for students who fall within certain income limits or meet other qualifications. Don’t limit your search to certain types of institutions. Some Ivy League schools offer free tuition to students who qualify.

It’s also a good idea to check out Reach Higher, the state system adult degree completion program. Designed for working adults, Reach Higher assists those who have earned some college credit to complete a degree while balancing family, professional, and financial obligations. FlexFinish and DirectComplete are subsidiary programs under Reach Higher that help to accomplish the goal of nontraditional learners furthering their education.