7 Ways to Save Money Going to College
College is expensive. I have completed my education, and it still bothers me. It’s just too much for the youth of today. I’m not the only educator who feels this way. Despite the general knowledge of increasing college costs and the increased need for accessibility, the cost of higher education continues to rise year after year. The even more tragic part about this is that a college degree has become more needed for a sustainable living and the jobs of the future.
The weight of financial hardship associated with higher education is a big deal. It is the sleeping giant impacting the mental health of ambitious youth. Financial difficulty is a psychological stressor. When your financial needs are not met, then you become stressed, depressed, anxious, or may experience an onset of other psychological disorders. The symptoms precipitated by mental conditions inhibit your ability to function, and you are not able to perform your best. Heightened stress and mental health concerns also limit your ability to make informed, long-term decisions. Your focus is more on right now instead of how your decision may impact you in the future. As a result, financial difficulty is one of the biggest threats to sustaining one’s achievements, including marriage, entrepreneurship, and graduating from college.
Don’t be discouraged. Here’s how you can save money on your pursuit to a better future:
Maintain a 3.0/4.0 GPA or higher
You are probably sick of me talking about this, but I can’t stress this enough. Maintaining your grades at a 3.0 or higher will open financial blessings in many avenues. A 3.0 is the minimum cut-off for many financial advantages, such as scholarships, grants, insurance benefits, and others. Put your all into your grades. Don’t cut corners. It’s worth the sacrifice. You don’t want to miss out on this hidden money.
Take Dual Credit in High School or Summer School Credit at a Community College
If you can get as many college credits out of the way before you get to college, then you will save yourself hundreds, if not thousands. Some high schools have partnership programs with community colleges that allow their students to earn college credits while still in high school. Even if you don’t have access to this program, you can still enroll in community college the summer before college starts. This can save you up to a semester of credits hours you will pay at a significantly lower rate, especially if you’re able to do this over summer breaks as well.
Choose a company with tuition assistance or reimbursement benefits
College is a privilege. Many cannot go right away due to the financial burden. You might not be ready to take on the responsibility of being in college. You might not be sure about the path you want to take to commit to going to college just yet. Don’t worry. You can possibly work at a company with tuition reimbursement, including colleges themselves. Look for administrative, facilities, operations, or customer service roles that are full time entry level positions with benefits.
Go into the military or join ROTC
You might like hands-on activity, structure, and serving for a good cause. This could be a budding heart of a member of a military service branch, such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or National Guard. Each branch has its own culture. Do your research about which would be the best fit for you. Military service enables you to gain paid on-the-job training, education benefits, and even better, leadership experience. ROTC involves enrollment at a university while you complete military classes, activities, and other commitments. Some programs give partial or full tuition waivers. You may need to commit to a specific period of service, whether during or after graduation, but the benefits outweigh the duty requirement for many.
Attend community college for two years, then transfer to a four-year university
This option is similar to taking advantage of dual credit programs, but for an extended period of time. This also enables you to earn an associate’s degree, which also may give you the opportunity to get higher paying jobs, if you need to continue to work while in college. Community college tuition is significantly lower than four-year institutions. Some states even allow students to attend community college for free. You will get most of your general education credits out the way and even take courses related to your desired major faster with this option.
Pick the college you can afford, or the one that provides you with the largest financial aid package
This is a game-changer. It’s sexy to go to the school with the big name far, far away, but this may not be as affordable as a school with an equally prestigious reputation in your home state. Again, the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition is thousands of dollars. I have to warn you though, don’t automatically take the Ivy Leagues or other top-ranked schools off the table. These schools have the history and noteworthy alumni that have given them the resources to offer more scholarships or college-access programs. So reach for the stars, but pick the school that gives you the biggest financial aid package.
Commute from home
You knock out the fees for room and board when you live at home. This is a cost savings of thousands of dollars. Many non-traditional and historically underrepresented students live independently off-campus, which is the same thing as commuting. Crunch the numbers and see if you can save money by finding an apartment and living with roommates.
I wish college was free in the United States, like it is in some other nations, such as Norway, Kenya, Spain, and Sweden. We can make it happen, if enough of us advocate for this policy change in the future. I’m positive it can happen, but we still have some ways to go. I hope these tips help you decrease your debt, prevent financial difficulty, and minimize its psychological affects while you increase your chances of a better future. No matter which method(s) you choose, I can’t guarantee it will be easy, but I can promise you it will be worth it.