There are two types of people in this world, those who do and those who don’t. The type of person who goes back to college, gets a scholarship, and gets a degree for free is the first type of person. The person who thinks about going to school, is afraid to apply for a financial aid scholarship for college, and continues where they are now is the second type of person. What kind of person do you want to be? Here’s what she needs to know if she’s a mom and wants to go back to school.

1. There is a lot of help

As a single parent, a married parent, or an aging parent, there are many options for you when it comes to paying your tuition, fees, books, and living expenses while earning a degree. There are grants, scholarships, student loans, and even work-study programs that can help you pay for everything you need to complete your degree and get to a better place in your work life. The two best options for you are grants and scholarships because they are sources of free money that can help you get your degree without racking up a lot of debt.

2. Obama has reserved $10,000 for each mother.

Now, when it comes to a college financial aid scholarship, this is probably your best bet as a mom, but you’re probably wondering what this will cover. The average cost of a credit hour at a community college is around $90. It will take about 64 credit hours to earn an Associate of Arts degree. This will cost you about $6,500 in tuition, $1,800 in books, and another $500 in supplies. That’s a total of $8,800 and the $10,000 college financial aid scholarship covers more than this amount. So how do you pay for the rest if you want a bachelor’s degree or can’t work to support yourself while you go to school?

3. The Pell Grant

The other option that is free money for you is the pell grant. This can net you up to another $5,500 a year, which can cover a good chunk of your living expenses and more. When you transfer to a state university or college for your bachelor’s degree, you’ll pay about $150 per credit hour for another 64 credit hours. This will cost you over $10,000, but if it takes you two years to do it, your pell grant will be enough to cover tuition and a little for books.

4. Student loans for expenses

If you can’t work or need the money to help cover living expenses, you can apply for student loans in addition to all the free money you’ll get. This can help you cover living expenses and more if you need it. Another option is not to go to school during the summers and work to save some money for the semesters that you are in school or you can also take classes that fit into your work schedule. Regardless of what you do, you should start with the free sources of money and go from there, as they never have to be paid back.