8 Tips to Save on College Expenses

Education expenses can be a pain to deal with, especially during a time where costs seem to continuously be on the rise. That’s why we at Kyrabe Stories would like to give a special thanks to Anna Serio from Finder for being our Subject Matter Expert and Guest Writer for this post to help guide you on ways to save on college expenses!

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About Anna Serio

From newspaper editor in Beirut to trusted loans expert in the US, Anna Serio has published more than 500 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. Anna writes about personal, student, business and car loans supported by two years of increasing expertise. Today, digital publications like Fundera, Business.com, Success.com, and ValueWalk feature her articles that offer professional advice and best practices with financial products.

With top private colleges charging close to $80,000 a year and student debt on the rise, cutting back on college expenses is more crucial than ever. While not everyone can get a free ride, you might not need to borrow as much as you think to go to your dream school.

1. Earn college credits before you start.

You can save thousands of dollars on your degree by earning college credits ahead of time. Taking AP classes is a start, but don’t slack off! You need to score high enough on the test to use the credits at your new school. 

Some colleges also offer college-level courses to high school students, which you can take after school or over the summer — usually for free or at a discounted price. Or you can test out of lower-level courses by taking a College Level Examination Program (CLEP) to knock out requirements. These come with a one-time fee of $89.

2. Fill out the FAFSA as early as you can.

You need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal student loans and grants. But some schools also use the FAFSA application to determine your eligibility for institutional aid.

Many schools offer aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Submit your FAFSA as soon as you can after it’s available on October 1st. This can translate into more free money for school.

3. Apply for lots of scholarships and grants — even the small ones.

If you’re serious about saving money on school, maxing out your free aid options before taking out loans is a must. 

Many private organizations offer scholarships and grants to students based on academic interest or demographics. But there are also more unusual scholarships out there to get small amounts of funding in a fun way — like writing an essay on zombies or entering a duck calling competition.

Pro tip to save on college expenses: Apply while you’re still in high school. You don’t need to know where you’re going to college to qualify for many of these scholarships.

4. Keep up those grades.

Having good grades isn’t only important for getting into the school of your choice. Many scholarship programs and even some need-based grants have minimum GPA requirements — usually around 2.5 or 3.0. You also need to keep your grades up to remain eligible for federal aid, including federal student loans.

5. Look into interest-free loans.

Some organizations offer student loans that don’t come with interest and have minimal fees, if any. They work something like a cross between a loan and a grant. You’re judged based on your academics or financial need, and you also might have to write an essay. You can usually only borrow a few thousand dollars, which you have to pay back over a certain period of time — usually around five years.

Like with scholarships, interest-free loan providers often have limited funding, so you might have better luck applying as soon as you can. 

6. Consider low-cost or tuition-free schools.

Not all colleges come with a $75,000 price tag. There are several schools across the country that offer full tuition to all accepted students, like the Macaulay Honors College in New York City or Deep Springs College in California.

Got the travel bug? You can also get your degree from some European schools for free or as little as a few thousand dollars a year.

7. Take advantage of student discounts.

One of the great benefits of being a student is that you qualify for more discounts than you ever will — at least until you turn 65. You can get discounts on almost everything  — including that new laptop, your flight home, and dorm furniture. 

But you need to know where to look. Make an account on a platform like Unidays or Student Beans to browse discounts before you go shopping. Typically, all you need is a student ID and student email address to qualify.

8. Rent your textbooks.

Textbooks are surprisingly expensive — it’s not uncommon to drop hundreds of dollars a semester on your required readings. 

But you don’t necessarily need to buy that Bio 101 textbook you’ll never crack open again. More and more textbook companies are offering rentals — many of which are available online. This can shave thousands off your cost of attendance come graduation day.

Saving on college frees up your future!

Graduating with a lot of student debt can seriously limit life after college. Cutting down on your expenses now can make it easier to do all those things you’ve dreamed of doing in your 20s. Like traveling the world. Or taking that more interesting but lower-paying job to build your ideal career. 

Apply for free aid as soon as you can and stay on top of your grades. If you don’t know where to start, talk to your high school guidance counselor or your college’s financial aid office about more ways you can save on college expenses.

Once again, many thanks to Anna Serio from Finder for her expert advice on cutting expenses for college!

Now let’s hear from you!

What are some ways that helped you save on college expenses? If you are in college, what are some challenges that you face that you’d like for us to address in a future post? Please leave your stories and inquiries in the comments below and make sure to subscribe to the newsletter for future learning opportunities!

And as always, remember to just live your life one story at a time!

Take care,

Kyndall Bennett from Kyrabe Stories

P.S. For more opportunities for discovering affordable ways to learn, check out our posts “5 Ways to Learn Using Social Media” and “My Top 5 Affordable Ways to Educate Myself.”