12 Ways To Make College More Affordable

12 Ways To Make College More

Affordable

1. Start out at community collage• Community college

costs an average of $2,713 per year, more than 80% less than public 4-year schools

• By doing your first two years at a community college, you could save more than $25,000

2. Summer classes close to home• If you go to a 4-year

college, consider taking summer classes at your local community college

• Most “core” classes will transfer, and this could save you thousands in the long run

3. Stay close to home• The average

public university in the United States costs 133% more for out-of-state students, according to U.S. News data

Flickr/ 401(k) 2012

4. Check for local scholarships• Scholarships

offered by businesses and individuals on a local basis are often much less competitive than state or national awards

Free cooper union

5. Take a full class load• Many schools charge a

flat rate per semester for a “full-time” course load

• The limits vary by school, but you could take up to 18 credits per term in many cases

• This helps ensure you graduate on time, as only about one-third of college students finish in four years Public domain

6. Rent textbooks• Renting textbooks can

save you hundreds of dollars each semester

• For example, one widely-used Biology text costs $188.49 new, $175.21 used, or as low as $49.99 to rent, according to Amazon.com Flickr/ Patrick

7. Use your entire meal plan• If your meal plan covers a

certain amount of meals, say 10 per week or 150 per semester, make sure you use them all

• Not using meals you paid for is wasting your money

• And, if you don’t use all of your meals, maybe you should drop the plan Flickr/ Kevin Jarrett

8. Investigate living options• In some college towns,

renting an apartment is actually cheaper than living on campus

• For instance, finding three roommates to share a four-bedroom house could save some money

• Make sure you shop around before deciding to stay in the dorms

wikipedia/ Raul654

9. Work as a resident advisor (RA)• Most schools offer

free or discounted housing to upperclassmen who choose to work as RAs

• Also known as a resident assistant www.austincollege.edu

10. Take advantage of campus freebies

• According to The College Board, the average student spends nearly $2,000 per year on personal expenses, like entertainment

• Many colleges have a variety of entertainment options (like movies) free of charge for students Wikipedia/ hashi photo

11. Don’t carry credit card balances• Running up large

credit card bills can make your college experience much more expensive

• The interest on a $5,000 credit card debt can cost $1,500 per year!

12. Only buy what you need• Wait until your classes

start before you buy your supplies

• Don’t buy five notebooks when a single large one will do

• Do you really need a 10-pack of highlighters?

flickr/ Jimmie

The best way to put the money you save to work