ccording to a Sallie Mae’s National Study How America Pays For College from 2014, student out-of-pocket spending accounted for just 12% of total college spending — making the class of students who finance their own colleges a slim and misunderstood margin.

Between the debts included in paying for your own college, financing an out-of-state tuition or receiving little to no financial aid from both family and your university, it can seem overwhelming and daunting.

Alicia Savoir and Emma Brodzski are two Ohio State University (OSU) students who are financing their own education.