Home
>
Personal Finance
>
College Expenses: Seven Ways to Save on an Education

College Expenses: Seven Ways to Save on an Education

Many people graduate from college owing thousands of dollars in student loans. It isn't uncommon for students to graduate owing $30,000 to $40,000. For people that get married shortly after graduation that means starting out with around $80,000 in debt. Thats a lot of debt for a young couple just looking to buy a house and possibly replace their aging vehicles.

While you may not be able avoid taking out a loan for college, here are six tips to help minimize the cost of your college education.

Choose an affordable school. Quality of education is not directly related to the cost of education. Usually you have several options cover various price ranges. State schools are partially funded by the government, so they are often less expensive.

Consider changing your residency. Most state schools offer greatly reduced rates for residents. Depending on what is required to establish residency, it might be work moving before starting college in order to get the less expensive tuition.

Take a summer job. Getting a summer job that can give you lots of work hours can significantly reduce the amount you need to take out in student loans. You have to save the money you earn in order to have it available for school expenses. If you can find a job that is related to your area of study, it will not only help you financially, but help make you a better student as well. Ideally find a job where they can use your help when you are on spring and Christmas break.

Look for scholarships. Many scholarship programs have been cut back in recent years, but there is still money available. Check with your financial aid department. Also check with your professors. They often know of scholarships that are handled on a departmental level instead of through financial aid.

Try to get a job tutoring. Work study usually isn't at a very high pay rate, but getting paid to teach your favorite subject will often make you a better student while giving you some extra money for expenses.

Consider the total cost. Don't just look at the cost of tuition when evaluating a school. Keep in mind other factors. If a nearby school would enable you to live at home, it might be much less expensive than a distant school with cheaper tuition. If you wouldn't need a vehicle at one school, it might be much less expensive than on that would require your own transportation.

Consolidate college debt. Once you've graduated look for programs that will let you consolidate any debt that you have at a low interest rate. This will allow you to put more money toward the principle and pay it off quickly.

For more information and strategies for staying out of debt, visit the debt reduction blog.

In The News:

Fitness centers and workout studios are starting to establish policies that prohibit shooting phone videos to protect people's privacy.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents

Apple recently notified a small number of iPhone customers in 92 countries that their phones may be under attack by mercenary spyware.

An artificial intelligence-powered home security system can fire paintballs and tear gas at trespassers. The camera identifies human faces and animals.

Technology expert Kim Komando gives her tips and tricks on enhancing your user experience a smartphone and other devices you use everyday.

A new camera called NUCA uses artificial intelligence to create deepfake photos of subjects by stripping away clothing in close to real time.

The Kimberley Kube trail-ready camper has a compact but spacious design and combines luxury, functionality and ruggedness for a weekend getaway.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Emails instructing you to reset your password for an account may be legitimate, or they may be scams. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains.

Northrop Grumman's Manta Ray uncrewed underwater vehicle aims to revolutionize undersea missions — it glides through the ocean without human assistance.

Learn how to work Google's calendar application to streamline and organize your daily tasks from technology expert Kim Komando.

If you do not want Facebook to have automatic access to your private photos, follow our tips to protect yourself. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson goes into detail about Apple’s recent iOS update that allows iPhone users to instantly translate spoken language simply by using the Action Button.

Safeguarding your digital life with a reliable physical backup isn't just a precaution, it's a necessity. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson provides the essential backup checklist.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how a Redditor exposed false recycling claims at their apartment, highlighting a report that only 21% of U.S. recyclables are processed.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson offers a travel toolkit featuring five technology tools to help you with booking flights and hotels for your summer vacation.

The bubble behind the clock on your iPhone can appear in different colors. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains what each of those colors mean.

Scammers are using the power of artificial intelligence to mimic voices of people and are using the fake voices to commit crimes, like kidnappings.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains the science behind the Invisibility Shield, a 6-foot shield that makes people become invisible.

The International Olympic Committee on Friday announced plans to use AI in various Olympic aspects, including athlete identification, training and judging.

Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains an easy trick to avoid squinting while working or surfing the web by zooming in on your personal computer.

Streaming giant Roku has recently been targeted by a pair of cyberattacks, and the company confirmed over a half million Roku accounts were compromised.

The Land Aircraft Carrier combines an all-terrain, six-wheeled vehicle with a two-seat aircraft, which features electric vertical takeoff and landing.

The European Union has sent TikTok a "request for information" on the video sharing platform's newest app, TikTok Lite, under the Digital Services Act, with the aim to clean up social media.

College Expenses: Seven Ways to Save on an Education

Personal Finance