10 Ways to Reduce College Costs

Enroll at a less expensive  college -  Think twice about taking a detour through a community college on your way to a Bachelor’s degree, or you may miss your destination. So Enroll at a less expensive college.

Get college credit in high school -  These credits will usually substitute for general college credits, as opposed to prerequisites, but can help you graduate earlier and save you money.

Focus on free money first - Continue searching for scholarships even after you are enrolled in college. Search for scholarships using free websites.

Apply for financial aid -  Students who file the FAFSA during the first three months get twice as many grants, on average, as students who file the FAFSA later. You can’t get aid if you don’t apply.

Claim credit for tuition and textbooks on your tax returns -  The American Opportunity Tax Credit provides a tax credit worth up to $2,500 on your federal income tax return, based on the amounts you spent on tuition and textbooks.

Live like a student while you’re in college, so you don't have to live like a student after you graduate -  Try to economize on living expenses. Minimize the number of trips home from college to save on travel costs.

Plan a path from matriculation to graduation -  This will help you know which classes you need to take when, considering prerequisite requirements and the frequency with which each class is offered. This will help you graduate on time.

Take an actual full-time load -  While many colleges consider students who take 12 credits a semester to be enrolled full-time, you often need to take 15 credits a semester if you want to graduate in four years.

Work part-time during the academic year and full-time during the summer -  Not only will this give you extra money to pay for college costs, but the experience will make you more attractive to employers after you graduate.

Appeal for more financial aid, if your family is affected by special circumstances -  Special circumstances include anything that’s changed since the base year and anything that distinguishes your family’s financial circumstances from those of the typical family.

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