Yahoo Movies Going Back to School on a Budget: 5 Ways Nontraditional Students Can Cut Costs
Back-to-school momentum is in the air, with big-box stores drumming up sales on educational essentials. But it’s not just tots and teens prepping for a return to the classroom. Adults who have been out of the game for a while or who are embarking on a college education for the first time are also gearing up for the school year.
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How can these nontraditional students financially prepare for this new page in their lives? What can they do to budget for schooling expenses and cut back on costs?
Consider Community College
If you’ve not yet made your decision about what school to attend, there’s a strong argument to be made for nontraditional students to go to community college. You can always transfer to a university later — but save heaps of money along the way.
“Students may not realize that most of the first two years of college consists of general education requirements,” said Tomika Brown, student success director for ECMC, a nonprofit that provides free guidance and resources to help students get to and through college. “Community college is a great low-cost way to tackle those general education requirements while keeping costs down since the cost per credit is typically significantly lower at a community college than a four-year university. Just make sure the credits earned will transfer to the college of choice in order to reap the greatest savings.”
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Put the Skills You Already Have To (Paid) Work
Fortunately, many adult students already have the upper hand because they’re older and wiser than those fresh out of high school. In short, they already have some experience in earning income and ideally, some honed skills that can put them one step ahead of the rest.
“Nontraditional students often bring real-world experience to the table,” said Andrew Pentis, a certified student loan counselor and student debt/higher-ed expert with Student Loan Hero. “So the top tip is for these students to leverage any skills they might be able to offer their new school.
“A technology whiz, for example, might apply for an IT job at the school they want to attend, particularly if that school offers tuition discounts to employees,” Pentis continued. “That’s one strategy for nontraditional students to cut down their cost of attendance and make room in their budget.”
Live Like a Student
You may be starting your higher education at a relatively advanced age, but you should still live like a traditional student does, meaning you should use the same money-saving hacks that all college students use.
“If you’re a nontraditional student returning to campus, you might be surprised to find that the cost of attending college has only continued to rise,” Pentis said. “As a result, cutting back where you can is a great way to help afford your tuition alongside living expenses.”
Here’s a look at a few things you can do to curb your educational spending, courtesy of Pentis:
Rent textbooks instead of buying them.
Cook instead of relying on expensive on-campus meal plans.
Consider halting your past life expenditures, such as new clothing or electronics, unless they’re necessary for your schooling.
Keep Boosting Your Earnings
You may have to take a break from making money (or at least, making as much money) when you go back to school, so it’s smart to have a solid nest egg built up.
“Saving up or increasing your income before switching to college life is a good idea, if possible, because it will give you some breathing room in your budget as you adjust to college life,” Pentis said. “That will allow you to feel financially ready for school so that you can focus on school, not stress over money.”
If you can continue to work while in college, that is, of course, ideal.
You Can Still Apply For Scholarships and Aid
“Age is not a factor when it comes to qualifying for federal financial aid, so all students should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), regardless of how long they’ve been out of school,” said Rebecca Safier, a former student loan counselor and senior writer with Student Loan Hero. “The FAFSA can unlock the door to federal grants, work-study and low-rate student loans. Plus, it may put you in the running for state grants or school scholarships.”
Work Part Time If Possible To Curb Student Loan Debt
While student loans can also be a useful tool, Safier advises incoming students to be careful not to spend too much loan money on unnecessary expenses.
“If you can cover living costs with income from work-study or a part-time job, you might be happier in the long run, since you’ll assume less debt and pay less interest overall,” Safier said.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Going Back to School on a Budget: 5 Ways Nontraditional Students Can Cut Costs
