How to Control Your
College Expenses

college planning articles and tips

Obtaining a four-year degree can cost you more than $200,000 at some elite universities, but student aid can reduce that amount significantly. Still, for many American families, affording college is just not possible without exploring some other areas where savings can be had. Let's take a look at ways your family can trim the cost of higher education.

1. Start Off at a Community College.

Your goal is a four-year degree. Why not spend the first two years at a community college? Community colleges, also known as technical colleges, are state-supported educational institutions. These schools enable students to get their basic classes out of the way and focus on building their grades. The cost of a community college education is far lower than even a state college or university, giving students two years of discounted education before transferring to a four-year program.

2. Live at Home Instead of On Campus.

The college experience includes living on campus with your classmates, right? Well, not always. For students with limited resources, dorm life is out of the question. Room and board at college can drive up college costs by 100 percent or more, while living at home means the student gets to keep his own room and enjoy home-cooked meals. Besides, when a student commutes to college, he can still participate in many of the same on-campus events everyone else gets to enjoy.

3. Leave the Car at Home.

As much as you want to bring your car to campus, that experience will cost you. A lot. First, you'll be charged parking costs with a new fee assessed each semester. Second, you'll have to pay for gas, maintenance and repairs, an expense on top of your other costs. Third, your car insurance rates can come in higher. At most campuses you can get around on foot, by bus or by means of some other conveyance.

4. Rent Your Books, Don't Buy Them.

The cost of college textbooks continue to rise, soaring past more than $1,000 per year according to PIRG. Your college bookstore won't give you much of a break, which means you need to look for savings elsewhere. One place to look is with retailers that rent college textbooks including Chegg, Skyo, Book Renter, Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Cut your costs by up to 70 percent or more and pocket the difference.

5. Look for Great Deals at Home.

If you head off to college and still need to buy school supplies, a laptop, a desk and other essentials, you'll likely pay more for these items on campus. You would do better to find great deals while you're still at home, shopping the seasonal specials in August and again in January to find what you need. You can also shop online to save on college essentials, taking advantage of special deals, free shipping, coupon codes and other discounts to have what you need shipped to your dorm or to your apartment.

6. Finish College on Time.

Most students can finish college within four years, but many students extend their education to five- or six-years as they change majors, transfer to a new school or take a lighter class load. Each of these decisions can cost you, driving up your college expenses accordingly. Besides, the sooner you finish your schooling, the quicker you will find a job. And that job will come following your diligence at achieving a college education in the most cost effective means possible.

Financial Considerations

Every student should fill out a Free Application For Student Aid or FAFSA form when applying for college. You'll receive a Student Aid Report or SAR that will outline your costs, adjusting for your family's expenses and your ability to afford college. You can close the financial gap further by applying for college scholarships, taking advantage of this multi-billion dollar annual giveaway for qualified students.

Author Information
Robert Langdon is a professional blogger that writes for GreatDeals.com. Great Deals offers thousands of deals at hundreds of retailers including Macys coupon codes.

College Planning Tools