How I (an American) paid for college:

1: Joined the National Guard, spent the Summer after High School in Basic Training, attended drill one weekend per month, thereafter and two weeks annual training each Summer. For this, I got 100% free tuition at any state university, pay for the weekend drills and annual trainings, plus a Montgomery G.I. Bill check for a few hundred dollars each month. (Also got good resume material for my chosen field as well as the opportunity to visit several other countries during the two week annual trainings, which is rare for middle class Americans).

2: Got a job processing the scholarships for other people on National Guard Grants and Veteran's Grants at the University.

3: Got a job as a Resident Assistant. R/As maintain some semblance of order within the dormitories, help new students, etc. In return, they receive free room and board at the dormitory.

4: Worked Summers in the agriculture industry.

I ended up with about $3,500.00 in student loan debt, mostly from the first year when I wasn't eligible to be an R/A. Most of that could have been avoided if I hadn't drank approximately $2,000.00 worth of beer and $4,000.00worth of Captain Morgan Spiced Rum.

My parents had no money to spend on my college, but they made too much for free assistance (the reality of lower-middle class in America). It can be done, though, if you are willing to work hard for it. I have no complaints.