subject: Paying For College - Tips For Getting Through College With Little Or No Debt [print this page] All you have to do is watch the news and you will hear just how expensive a college education is these days. But if you expected to make a competitive wage, it is a necessity. It has been shown that a college graduate makes more than a million dollars more than a person that has just a high school diploma. With this being said you will limit your options if you do not go to some type of school after high school.
College educations can be very pricey and picking a school that is affordable is important. It is nice to say you have a degree from Harvard, but how much are you willing to pay to say you graduated from an Ivy League school.
Secondly, there are things you can do when you are still in high school that will help you save money. Taking advance placement (AP) classes is a step that can be taken in high school. These are classes that you will be give college credit for by passing a test.
There are a large number of scholarships available. You may have to meet certain requirements to be eligible, but there are many that may just require and application and an essay. A list of scholarships can be found just be searching the word "scholarships" on the internet.
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is one of the best options for saving money. This program offers tests that can be taken for college credit. These tests cost about $100 and can save you thousands if you take a large number of them. CLEP exams can be taken for many entry level classes and can shave up to 2 years off of the time it takes you to go to college as well as eliminating the cost of these classes.
Another option for college money is tuition reimbursement through an employer. Many employer offer money for employees to go to school, but there are normally certain requirements that have to be met. Normally, you must be employed 6-12 months, the classes you are taking have to be something that can be used with your employer and you will need a passing grade. Many employers will pay more than $5,000 per year towards your education.
Education can be expensive, but there are things that you can do to try to defray that cost. There are more options than ever before for avoid the debt of a college education. You just have to take the time research and use what is available to you.
