If your parents aren't able to help you, then you need to take a leadership role. Spend some time learning about the options for college, prices, and financial aid. The truth is, college is affordable. It's all a matter of choosing wisely. In order to make an informed college selection, it's important that you understand the financial aid process and how financial aid packages are developed for individual students.
Cost of attendance is how much it costs to attend college.
This cost varies with each college. Just call the college's financial aid office to find out the figure. Tax returns are the best way to document family income. You will need access to your parents tax returns as well as your own. Without know what your estimated family contribution is it's hard to tell you what you will qual ify for, but as you will see later on, money is available for those who need it.