Tips to Reduce College Costs

• Most colleges and universities offer merit or non-need-based scholarships to academically talented students.
• The National Merit Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students based upon academic merit.
• Many states offer scholarship assistance to academically talented students.
• Many schools offer scholarships to athletically talented students.
• Special grants or scholarships are offered to students with particular talents such as music, journalism, drama and other categories.
• A state college or university charges lower fees to state residents.
• Attend a community college for 1 or 2 years, and then transfer to a 4-year school.
• Living at home can save as much as $6,000 per year.
• In exchange for a certain number of hours of work each week, students may be able to get a free room and board.
• Cooperative education programs allow students to alternate between working full time and studying full time and can earn as much as $7,000 per year.
• Take an examination in a particular subject and receives college credit under the programs such as the Advanced Placement Program (APP), the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and the Provenience Examination Program (PEP).
• Some colleges give credit for life experiences. Check with the college for further information. You can also write to Distance Education and Training Council at 1601 18th(eighteenth) Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, or call (202) 234-5100.
• One of the most obvious ways of reducing college costs is to attend a low-cost school.
• Some schools offer combined degree programs or 3-year programs, thereby eliminating 1 year's educational expenses.
• Partial tuition remission for the children of alumni is a common practice.
• Some colleges and universities offer special discounts if more than one child from the same family is enrolled.
• Some schools offer reduced tuition rates to families if the major wage earner is unemployed.
• Some colleges and universities have special funds set aside for families who do not qualify for federal or state funding.
• Buy used textbooks.