If you’re thinking of going to college, prepare yourself — it costs more than you think.

But how much is college really going to cost you?  To attend a community college or an inexpensive state college full time, you’re probably looking at close to a couple thousand, maybe even three or four thousand, a year — and those are the cheap colleges.  More expensive private colleges can cost as much as thirty thousand a year — often more than a college graduate’s starting salary!

Problem is, that’s just the tuition and fees — that doesn’t include textbooks, living expenses, and other expenses a college student needs to consider.  Even if you are working full time — which is difficult to do when you’re also in school full time — that’s a lot of money to fork over every year.

Many students opt to attend college part time for this very reason.  The problem is, attending part time doesn’t cut your annual cost back by very much, and actually increases the overall cost of your education.  The reason is that most colleges charge less per credit hour the more classes you take.  You also pay fewer fees over the course of your education if you take your courses in fewer semesters.

If you have expected a family contribution to your college savings account, but aren’t getting it anymore after all, you’re not alone — the stock market problems have compromised many people’s savings and even made it impossible for them to pay for their children’s education.  As a result, it’s becoming more and more necessary for people to find ways to save money on college.

Luckily there are ways to save money on college — you just have to know where to look.  Your college’s financial aid department is a great starting point, but don’t expect them to have all of the answers.  Most likely you will have to consult someone whose expertise is not just finding scholarships and loans, but also knowing how to reduce your costs!

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