The most important thing to remember when figuring out how to pay for a degree is that you are not alone. Every top business degree program pairs students with a financial advisor who can assist every step of the way.  

This advisor can help complete the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as well as identify scholarships, internships, work-study opportunities, tuition reimbursement plans and other methods of paying for school. Everyone, even a working adult who makes a decent living, is eligible for federal aid and/or scholarship assistance.

Here are five easy steps to follow to get started: 

Step One: Fill out a FAFSA. Make sure to fill it out accurately and carefully. A financial advisor can answer any questions you might have. Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov for an application or pick one up from your school. The FAFSA alerts you to any federal grants, loans or work-study programs you qualify for. 

Step Two: If you are a working professional or are in the military, talk to your employer about tuition assistance programs, or talk to your financial advisor about military benefits. Many companies offer benefits packages that include paying for employees’ classes, usually as long as those classes correlate with their jobs. Even if your company has not provided tuition assistance in the past, they may be willing to start now. Also, almost every school in the country offers discounts for members of the Armed Services. Talk to the financial advisor to see what you qualify for. 

Step Three: Search for scholarships. There are scholarships available for every type of student with every type of ability. Search online using keywords that match your abilities, such as “left-handed scholarships,” “women in business scholarships,” “Veteran scholarships,” etc. Also, ask your financial advisor for a list of the scholarships offered by the school. 

Step Four: Find out how if the school offers monthly payment plans. Many schools allow students to pay for classes in manageable monthly payments instead of all at once. Sometimes these payment plans even include books and other costs. 

Step Five: Consider loan forgiveness programs once you graduate. These programs pay off any loans you have, as long as you haven’t defaulted, if you perform service-related work such as volunteer for programs like AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and Volunteers in Service to America, or if you join the military. Search online for loan forgiveness programs related to your desired area of service to learn more. 

As you work through these five steps, remember that most programs allow students to opt for an accelerated program, which is usually less expensive. Some schools allow students to enter the program at a more advanced level because of background and work experience as well. Finally, talk to your tax advisor about how federal tax credits may help reduce some of the costs of your education, or visit www.irs.gov. Also, if you are a parent who is attending school, consider opening a tax-advantaged educational savings program for your children, called 529 plans.