Create a financial plan to pay for college. Make a budget and a timeline and do some research about which programs you can use to pay your way. While it's true that tuition is rising, there are dozens of ways to get financial aid -- merit awards, scholarships, federal loans, and alternative loans.

Do your best to pay off consumer debt, such as credit card and auto loan balances, before you apply.

If you are a parent, consider going back to school while your children are in college. The more family members in school simultaneously, the more aid will be available to each.

Accelerate necessary expenses to reduce available cash. For example, if you need a new car or computer, buy it before you file the FAFSA.

Do not withdraw money from your retirement fund to pay for school. If you must use this money, borrow from your retirement fund.

APPLYING FOR AID (Adult Students)

File the application(s) as early as possible, since much aid is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Make sure that the information on the application is complete and accurate. Applications that have to be returned for corrections will delay processing by several weeks.

If there are extenuating financial circumstances that are not reflected in the completed aid application, it is in your best interest to notify the financial aid office. Make sure that you can sufficiently document these conditions.

SCHOLARSHIPS (Adult Students)

In addition to applying for financial aid from your school and from the government, make sure you check out scholarships as a source of funding. Scholarship search engines can be extremely useful for this task, and the Scholarship Research Network is a great place to get started.

YOUR AWARD LETTER (Adult Students)

Read each award letter carefully to find out the total cost of attendance, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the types and amounts of aid being offered. Take some time to consider your options before you make a final decision. Families should not be afraid to challenge the amount if they feel there is an oversight.

ALTERNATIVE LOANS (Adult Students)

If after receiving your award, you find there is still a gap between how much you've been offered and how much you need to pay for school, check out alternative loans. These programs are created by private lenders specifically to fill this gap. Although they can be a bit more expensive than government loans, you can often find a good deal by doing some research on your own. A great place to do your research is right here using the alternative LoanFinder.