It's well known that incurring the cost of a college education is not something one does on a lark. It's a considerable cost, of both time but of money. Still, there are ways to save a few hundred dollars and still get that accredited degree or certification.
What it takes is competitive shopping. When you are buying a house or a car, you shop around. Why should colleges be any different? With the cost of tuition being what it is, one should seriously play this 'game' as the odds of success are in your favor. That said, here are some tips to think about:
Online and Local Colleges Generally Cost Less - Yes, it's nice that Harvard is now basing its tuition on a student (or student family's) income. They also realized many local and online colleges do what they do, at considerably less. In fact, an online education costs 40% less than a brick and mortar counterpart. In other words, the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence.
See If You Can Take Some Pre-Testing - Say you previously had dropped out or taken advanced classes in high school. See if the university will give your credit for what you already know. If not, see if they accept tests such as CLEP, DANTES or Challenge? If you pass any of these tests that means you DO know enough to skip the course, saving you a considerable amount in credit hours.
See If The College Has A Referral Program - There's nothing any business likes better than referrals from a satisfied customer. Colleges are businesses, too. If you have a friend who's also going back to school, see if the college will take several hundred dollars off your tuition for the referral. Just go to that school first.
Text Books - Text books cost a lot and don't change much from year to year. Second hand books one to two years old should be every bit as good as brand spanking new ones, and cost anywhere from 20-40% less. Also, you should shop at eBay or Amazon for deals. Finally, some online schools include text books as part of their tuition.
If You Took Training Classes At Work, They Can Equal Passed Classes - The big example here is in the military, but internships at hospitals and many other institutions count, too. If you had to take training courses as part of our job, see if they count towards your degree. If the school challenges that, take what's called an ACE test. If you pass that, it means you officially know enough to skip the class and still have the credits.
Every penny counts while this country slowly limps its way out of this recession. At the same time, continuing education through online degrees is a sound investment towards increasing one's income. That does not mean the last two statements conflict. Shopping wisely for the best online degree before making a commitment, if anything, should prove to the college that you are a superior student, and worthy of enrollment. Keep that in mind as you start your hunt.
