Recently a conversation at our dinner table turned into a chat about college. My sister is in the ninth grade, but time flies. We discussed several options to reduce her college bill and I share six of them below. My main advice was to work hard and get good grades as this will eventually help her pay for her higher education.
AP Classes – Taking advanced placement classes is one way to reduce your college bill – as long as you pass the end of the year exam. These courses are college-level and you can earn college credit. If students pass the exam, it will be one less class to worry about. My sister will take a couple of AP classes when she’s in her junior year.
Community College – There still seems to be a stigma about going to a community college for two years and then transferring. But with classes being around $20 – $35 per unit, you can’t beat the price! Taking basic classes at a community college will reduce your college bill. No one will ever know you attended a community college as your diploma will only have the name of the university you last attend. Another option is to start taking college courses during the summer if available while in high school. I was able to take a couple course and received college and high school credit.
Scholarships – This may seem like an obvious recourse, but not many take advantage of the opportunities. Many scholarships don’t have many requirements. Make sure to have your high schoolers to apply for anything that they qualify even if the amount is small. Have them talk to their college advisers or head over to their high school’s Financial Aid office, as well, as high school students can start applying even if they don’t know where they’re attending.
In-state tuition – My sister has an idea of where she wants to go for college. She’s even eying some out of state colleges. Wowsa! I talked to her about the benefits of choosing in-state universities. One of those perks is that it will cost less. Going out of state will cost a couple thousand more per unit.
Stick with your major/college – The more you change schools, or change majors, the more time you lose, and the more expensive college gets. Each time students change their minds, they are losing credits that need to be made up. Therefore, it’s wise for them to start thinking of what they want to do. Internships during the summer are a great way to explore careers!
Volunteer Work – Many scholarships require volunteer work and high school is a great time to start giving back to your community. Students in high school can also start networking and this will help them land scholarships in the future. All they have to do is ask for letters of recommendations for free money and university applications.
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.
My youngest son was the only one of the 3 who made it to college, and he had to work during that time to pay for his personal expenses (car, insurance, entertainment, etc.). We didn’t charge him R&B, and paid his college expenses. He went to Valley College for his required classes for the first two years, then transferred to CSUN. The biggest factor was that VCC had upgraded its courses so that the units would transfer to a 4-year college. It’s definitely the best way to go to save money. I’m glad you’re encouraging your sister to work hard, put in volunteer hours (she’s already started that with Frugal Fest), and take AP classes whenever possible. The competition for scholarships is fierce, so getting top grades is truly important. I do admire you for setting such a good example for your sister, as it makes the realities more tangible for her. Keep up the good work! HUGS ~ El
@EllieD Thanks! Although, I got accepted into several 4 year colleges during high school I attended a community college first. This definitely cut my college costs.
You’ve hit the nail on the head, because I’ve utilized all 6 tips mentioned and have saved a TON of money! I’m graduating from a community college next year and will then be transfering to a four-year school. It’s so much cheaper, and I still feel that I’m getting a quality education. I’m also the president of an organization on campus, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and keep a GPA of 3.8…all of these (combined with actual financial need) have helped me win numerous scholarships to the point where school is free for me next year. It literally PAYS to put forth some extra effort!