How to Bring Down Cost of Getting a Degree
September 24, 2009 by David Young
Filed under Online Colleges
A professional degree combined with a great job can ensure financial security for everyone. Sometimes people need to pursue additional courses like management; doctorates etc., to make sure they are able to sustain their career growth. There are some simple ways to bring down the expenses of getting a degree, considering today’s economical scenario in mind.
Step 1 ” Those wanting to pursue a professional degree later on can first look at gaining admission in a community college. The cost of education in a community college is less costly compared to a four year degree university. The credits of the elective courses chosen to study here can be transferred to a four year institution. This enables students to pursue higher education without much cost involved.
Step 2 – Colleges offer athletic and non-athletic scholarships for students who are part of the student government, yearbook staff, chess club, the arts, etc. Websites like FastWeb.com and Scholarships.com help to get scholarships based on certain criteria. The criteria may include categories like minority, disabled, gender-based, religious, academic, or athletic scholarships etc. Also, remember to visit the University websites for financial aid applications.
Step 3 ” Those who apply with work experience, like working professionals wanting to pursue an MBA or DBA degree can check with the college/university if there any work credits allocated during admissions. There are some colleges that give three, six or more credits for business experience that is related to a college course. Find out if the employer is offering a tuition fee reimbursement for pursuing higher studies. Also, if you have passed tests like DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) and CLEPS (College-Level Examination Program) they can add more value to your credit count during college admission.
Step 4 – For economical reasons online courses can be pursued to eliminate many overhead costs like travel, purchase of books, dresses, vehicle etc. Online degrees help to give the career a boost, which is much needed keeping in mind today’s economic condition. Some online universities provide early bird discounts and conduct essay contests to grant scholarships and waivers. These schemes can be well wisely to cut down on college expenses like tuition fees etc.
Step 5 ” Check with university offices whether they offer Federal Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, Pell Grants, and in-house scholarships for those who qualify. Check out the government website www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA is an important document for getting any kind of financial assistance from the government, without having to pay back.
You should definitely apply for scholarships and grants that are available. Many grants or scholarships get few applications making it easy money for those that do apply.
Another tip I recommend is to buy used textbooks or at least sell your books when you are done with them. Textbooks often add up to a lot of money.
Also there are lots of little things you can do such as reducing food & entertainment expenses. You can even choose to attend a college close to home to save money.