Paying for a college education can be daunting: A four-year public university can cost $19,000 a year on average, while the priciest private nonprofit schools can cost near $70,000, according to The College Board.

But even if students and their families are disappointed by paltry financial aid packages, there are still numerous sources of financial aid that can help students pay for an education.

In an enterprise story for NBC’s city stations, I spoke to financial aid professionals and dug through reams of data to find some ways for college applicants to make the most of their financial aid applications — and the surprising sources for college cash.

Read 7 Ways to Maximize College Financial Aid at NBC