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Ways to Cut College Tuition Costs

For many high school students, the next step after graduation is to head off to college, but paying for college can be an obstacle. With the cost of secondary education on the rise, you may want to examine some of the ways you can cut costs in order to achieve your higher education goals.

Consider a Public College vs a Private College

One of the best ways to save money on a quality college education is to consider a state university instead of a private institution. The loans you will need to take in order to pay for private colleges can land you in debt that tips the scales at over six figures, and repaying student loans can become a lifelong headache, whereas the price tag for public, state universities are far less than half the cost.

Take Another Look at Community College

You may even want to begin your college education at a community college. Community college credits can easily be transferred to public institutions, and taking a year, or even two years, worth of credits at a community college means big savings. Though the price varies by state, you can expect to pay somewhere around only $100 per credit hour at a community college versus $300 or so at a public college, adding up to thousands of dollars in savings.

Not only is community college a great way to earn credits to transfer to a public college, but they also offer degree programs. Though they are not four-year degrees, you may want to consider the benefits of a two-year associate's degree or even a vocational certificate program. The savings are considerable, and there are excellent job opportunities and earning potential available for people with associate's degrees or vocational training.

Look for College Scholarships

If you plan to obtain a four-year degree, do your research on any scholarships that may be available to you. Full scholarships will, of course, pay for your entire education, but partial scholarships are also available and result in significant savings. Merit-based scholarships are awarded to students with academic excellence, and athletic scholarships are awarded to students who excel in sports and wish to compete at the college level.

Cutting tuition costs does not have to begin with the college search. You can even being during high school. If you have a history of strong academic performance, talk to your guidance counselor about registering for AP courses. AP courses will earn you college credits, and depending on how many courses you are able to take, you may even be able to start college as a sophomore, resulting in instant savings of around 25 percent.

Paying for college can be stressful, but there are several options available to help you. The professionals at Advantage CCS can work with you to map out a plan to make college education a reality. And if you've already taken out more loans than you think you can handle, contact us today. Our non-profit consumer credit counselors are available online, in person or via phone to help you create a budget management plan that can help keep you from becoming too overwhelmed.