Paying for your college classes can be a crippling financial burden for years to come. Or it can be an easily-managed bill that is nearly paid for by the time you graduate. There are a number of ways to reduce how much you have to pay for your classes. Savvy planners can make the process relatively painless.
Using a Scholarship
A scholarship is the obvious choice on the path to a cheap college tuition. The problem is not everyone is eligible for a scholarship. But there a number of scholarships that cater to different types of people.
Most scholarships require a specific and high grade-point average for consideration, but the David Letterman Scholarship is designed especially for average students. It’s only available at Ball State University in Indiana, but its unique requirements make it a good choice for some students.
Some scholarships come from unexpected places, like the KFC Colonel’s Scholar Program. This one is for low income students with good grades who are looking to use college as a gateway to their own business.
It wouldn’t hurt to browse the US Scholarship website and see if there is a scholarship that is appropriate for your situation.
Taking Free Classes
Many universities offer some classes for free if you pay for a certain number each semester. For example, East Tennessee State University makes you pay for the first 12 credits each semester. Any class you sign up for beyond those 12 credits is free of charge.
While you don’t want to overburden yourself with too many classes, adding an extra free class or two each semester can save you a lot of money down the road. During semesters where many of your classes might be relatively easy, it’s a good idea to load up on free ones.
Just keep in mind that many universities limit how many classes you can take each semester, and different classes are worth differing numbers of credits.
Paying Up-Front
Most people, however, will have to pay for the majority of their classes. While you can get financial aid to help pay for them, these are loans you will have to pay back after you graduate (or cease taking classes).
If you can afford it, it’s advisable to pay for your classes up-front. You may even want to take a break for a semester to save up money for the next one. It will take longer to complete your education, but you won’t be paying back loans for years to come.