The Frugal Student: Picking The Right College For Your Pocketbook
Choosing a College That You Can Afford

College is expensive. There’s just no real way around that fact … but there is a way to get around spending a fortune on your college education. If you’re a frugal student who plans ahead and thinks about your financial options before making your college decisions, you can select a college that will let you get a good education without spending all of your savings or going into massive debt. The trick is to fill yourself with financial knowledge and be smart about the choices that you make.

Here are some things that the frugal student can think about when picking colleges:

• Start with a community college. Community college is a low-cost option for completing the first two years of your education. You can finish all of your general education courses and then transfer those to a more expensive four year college later, saving a big portion of money on the first half of your college education.
• Stay in state. Look into the costs of staying in state to attend school versus going out of state. The difference is incredible. If you’re determined to go to an out-of-state school, consider moving to the state that the school is in and working for a year while you gain state residency. You’ll save money during the work year and also be able to get the lower price of tuition when you do start college.
• Find a school that will give you a scholarship. Scholarships are available for all kinds of different things from great essays to outstanding sports skills. Identify what you do well and find a college that will give you a scholarship for it. A full scholarship is excellent but even a partial scholarship will save you money.
• Find a school that will let you do a work / study program in your area of interest. The frugal student will pick a school at which they can work, giving them both experience and some income while in school. If you can’t get a work / study job, find a school that is located near a place where you are likely to be able to obtain employment.
• Pay attention to the cost of living around your school. You are probably not going to live on campus and stay on campus for all four years of your college education. The frugal student will pick a school that is located in a town where rent and other living expenses are relatively inexpensive. Staying near home so you can live with Mom and Dad is also an option.

A student who plans ahead can greatly reduce the cost of college. Selecting the right kind of college with the right financial programs in the right geographic area can make attending college affordable. And the savings don’t end with choosing the right college. By remaining frugal throughout the college years, you can graduate with little to no debt and be well on your way to starting your career with financial stability in place.

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