Although training and education (T&E) can lead to higher paid positions and more career options, in the short term, training and education can be expensive. You may need to take advantage of many different resources to help cover your costs.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Figure out how much money you need to pay for T&E
   If you are not sure how much your program costs, research! You can get a general idea by checking out our EarnBenefits T&E Fact Sheets. If you know what T&E program you are interested in, check out their website or call someone in their financial aid department. Be sure to think about tuition costs and related costs such as books, supplies, transportation, etc.
   
   
2. Identify resources to help you pay for T&E programs
   Resources include scholarships, loans, and finding low-cost and free programs to help keep your overall costs down.
   

GED, Adult Basic Literacy, Job Readiness Training, and ESL Programs
In general there are a lot of free programs that provide GED preparation, Adult Basic Literacy, and ESL training. In fact, you may find that your biggest challenge is not paying for these programs, but finding the time to complete them. Check out our key learning area fact sheets to find out how to find a free program.

Vocational or Specialized Training Programs
Vocational or Specialized Training Programs can range incost from free to thousands of dollars. In order to helpcover your costs:

• Go to a Workforce1 Career Center to find out if you qualify for up to $2,500 in ITA Vouchers which can help pay for training at over 300 New York City training providers. Check out our ITA Voucher page to learn more.
• Explore apprenticeships which provide paid on-the-job learning and academic instruction. Learn more at The Department of Labor's page on apprenticeships.
• If you are between 16 and 24 years of age check outJob Corps, a free, government-sponsored vocational training program.

Two or Four Year Colleges

• Check out Teri College Access's Making College Affordable, an easy-to-read, and comprehensive guide on financial aid, loans and scholarships.
• The FinAid! website is a great on-line tool to help you better understand and apply for different government and privately funded financial aid resources. It also includes information for undocumented students and illegal aliens.
• Check out this Online Scholarship Guide for links to over 70 no-cost scholarship searches students can use to match themselves to funding for undergraduate study, overseas study, internships, and graduate and professional school.

Other Options

• Get a part-time job to help cover some of your costs
• Find out if you qualify for benefits such as Food Stamps and the Earned Income Tax Credit (in other sections of this website) which can help put more money in your pocket to pay for training.
• Ask your employer! - Some employers provide tuition payment assistance. Ask someone in your Human Resources Department or your Supervisor for details. Keep in mind some employers may require you to commit to working for them for some time after you receive the training. Also, if you are enrolling in a program in order to position yourself for a different job with another company, you may not want to share your plans with your employer if you think they will use it against you.