CAREER WORLD
Jan. 2008, pp. 28+ Copyright © Weekly Reader Corporation. Jan. 2008. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. Cut College Costs By Mark Rowh • With tuitions skyrocketing, what's a student to do? We have five answers. When it comes to college, money matters. Elizabeth Cincotta learned that the hard way. Her goal was to attend New York University (NYU). When she crunched the numbers, Cincotta found that NYU, one of the most expensive colleges in the country, was way out of her price range. But Cincotta was determined to make it work. She took college courses offered through her high school. After graduation, she enrolled at a community college with a plan to transfer later to NYU. When she did, she was already more than halfway to a bachelor's degree. She applied for student aid, lived off campus, and cut corners with her expenses. When Cincotta earned her degree from NYU in 2007, her total cost was approximately $27,000. Had she attended NYU from the start, lived on campus, and paid full tuition, the cost would have been about $180,000. Higher education costs continue to rise. Tuition at four-year colleges and universities has increased by an average of 28 to 55 percent over the past five years, according to the College Board. "College is insanely expensive, but it doesn't have to be devastating to a family's finances," Cincotta says. "There are tons of ways to cut the cost of college." Here are five. 1. Choose a less expensive college. At a private college, such as NYU, yearly tuition averages more than $22,000 a year. At public universities, the average tuition for in-state students is less than $6,000 a year, according to the College Board. State universities and other public colleges cost less because they are supported in part by tax dollars. Community college is the biggest cost saver of all. The average yearly tuition is less than $2,500. "If you have your heart set on a private college, but the price tag gives you stomach cramps, consider doing your first two years at a lower-priced public school and then transferring," says Manisha Thakor, co-author of On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl's Guide to Personal Finance. "If the cost of public college is daunting, you may consider doing two years at a community college and then transferring." 2. Earn cheap credits. Even if a low-cost college just isn't right for you, don't overlook the value of applying less expensive credits toward a degree at a more costly school. Take dual enrollment or advanced placement classes for college credit while still in high school. Once you start college, complete some community college courses during the summer, and transfer the credits to your home school. Distance-learning courses offered by other colleges may charge lower tuition. As long as your home college approves them in advance, those credits will substitute for more-expensive courses and reduce your overall bill. 3. Apply for aid. Scholarships, grants, and federal aid can help take the sting out of paying for college. There is aid available for almost everyone, regardless of income level or scholastic achievements. Some awards are based on academics or service. Others are based on need or anything from cultural background to family history. For aid, use the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) which must be submitted each year you need aid. (Find it online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.) Check with the colleges you're considering to find out what kind of aid is available. Talk to your guidance counselor. Review scholarship directories. Explore Web sites such as FastWeb.com and Scholarships.com. 4. Shop around for books. Crisp new college textbooks can run about $1,000 per year. You can reduce that amount by buying used books from other students-as long as they're the current edition. You can sell them back at the end of the year. You can also use discount book vendors such as eCampus.com, Textbooks.com, and Amazon. SafariX.com offers inexpensive digital versions of books. As just one example, a popular business statistics textbook costs $154 new at some college bookstores. The same book can be found for $132 at a discount vendor, with used copies available for as low as $69. SafariX offers access to an electronic version of the new text for $70. 5. Live frugally. In your everyday life as a college student, look for ways to reduce expenses. Work-study assignments and on-campus jobs help ease the burden of personal expenses. If you live on campus, consider working as a resident adviser (RA). In return for helping oversee student life, you can get a big break on housing costs. Also cut down on optional expenses. "Find cheap ways to entertain yourself," advises Jaime Banuelos, who graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology in 2007. "Involve yourself in college activities that keep you busy and away from spending money on movies or expensive concerts." When you make purchases, look for student discount opportunities. Often all you need to qualify is a current student ID card. Jessica Hayward, a 2005 graduate of Arizona State University, took a job at the front desk in her dorm that allowed her to study while making money, bought used textbooks, and resold books when she was finished with them. "Originally, my mom said there was no way for me to afford [college]," she says. "But we made things work." For most students, the key to cutting college costs is developing their own plans. "There is no one-size-fits-all approach to college," says Cincotta. "Personalize your plan and maximize your savings in a way that works best for you in the long run." |
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