3 answers
Mayra
Student
Azusa, California
3
Questions
Asked
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what can I do to not pay so much for college
I want to save and try to look in different colleges that are not so expensive for me. I don't want to be in debt for many years. #money #college
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3 answers
Rebecca Burns
Program Manager
7
Answers
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Hi Mayra,
It's great you're thinking about ways to make college more affordable. One way that is often recommended is to start at a community college and then transfer to an in-state university after two years. I see that you've indicated you're based in California and I believe most community college credits should easily transfer to the CSU system, but a counselor will be able to help you sort through the specifics (there's also plenty of resources available online).
You don't have to do a full two years at a community college before transferring to a four-year university. You can also selectively take classes at a nearby community college & transfer them to your home university - this is great for particularly challenging courses or classes that may not fit in with your schedule. It's also a way to finish school quicker (by taking summer classes) which means you can enter the workforce sooner and start paying down debt earlier.
I will mention that one potential drawback of transfer credits is that they do not impact your GPA when you transfer them; that means that your upper-level class will have more of an impact on your overall GPA. While not a deal-breaker, it is something to keep in mind as your GPA is sometimes used by employers to screen new graduates (you typically need to maintain just a 3.0 or above, but this can vary depending on which field you chose to pursue).
Best of luck!
Read up on pros & cons of transferring community college credits: https://www.collegexpress.com/interests/transfer/articles/how-transfer/pros-and-cons-transferring-community-college-four-year-school/
Check out assist.org for California-specific resources
If you'd like to pursue an education at an out-of-state university, look up resources for how to establish residency, qualify for in-state tuition, and ways to help mitigate costs specific to that state
It's great you're thinking about ways to make college more affordable. One way that is often recommended is to start at a community college and then transfer to an in-state university after two years. I see that you've indicated you're based in California and I believe most community college credits should easily transfer to the CSU system, but a counselor will be able to help you sort through the specifics (there's also plenty of resources available online).
You don't have to do a full two years at a community college before transferring to a four-year university. You can also selectively take classes at a nearby community college & transfer them to your home university - this is great for particularly challenging courses or classes that may not fit in with your schedule. It's also a way to finish school quicker (by taking summer classes) which means you can enter the workforce sooner and start paying down debt earlier.
I will mention that one potential drawback of transfer credits is that they do not impact your GPA when you transfer them; that means that your upper-level class will have more of an impact on your overall GPA. While not a deal-breaker, it is something to keep in mind as your GPA is sometimes used by employers to screen new graduates (you typically need to maintain just a 3.0 or above, but this can vary depending on which field you chose to pursue).
Best of luck!
Rebecca recommends the following next steps:
Mariana Slepovitch, FSA, CFA
Actuary
8
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Mariana’s Answer
There are several things that you can do individually or in combination:
1. Take as many AP or dual enrollment classes while you are in high school. You will then be able to get college credits for those courses and cut down the time you spend in (and pay for) college.
2. Consider spending the first 1-2 years of college at a local community college. It is significantly cheaper than a 4 year college, and you will also save on room and board. Many community colleges offer a guaranteed transfer path to a 4 year school, i.e. if you take certain classes and make a certain GPA, there will be a place for you at a 4-year school. However, you have to research this for your particular intended major and the college that you want to ultimately attend.
3. Maximize the federal and state aid available to you. Research the Pell grant and any state aid you might be eligible for.
4. Get a good idea of what need based financial aid you might be getting from the 4 year colleges you are considering. Each college provides the estimated cost calculator (called Net Cost Calculator) on their website where you plug in your and your family's income, assets, etc. and you get an estimate of how much they expect you to pay. While it's an estimate, it will give you some idea of where you stand money wise.
5. Research the merit based financial aid that might be available to you. Some colleges give significant discounts on tuition for certain test scores/GPAs - see if any of that is applicable to you.
6. Finally, spend some time (not too much) researching any scholarships that you might be eligible for based on your hobbies, volunteer activities, background, ethnicity, your parents' work, your religious institution, etc. Those are usually not large, but still can make the costs more manageable.
1. Take as many AP or dual enrollment classes while you are in high school. You will then be able to get college credits for those courses and cut down the time you spend in (and pay for) college.
2. Consider spending the first 1-2 years of college at a local community college. It is significantly cheaper than a 4 year college, and you will also save on room and board. Many community colleges offer a guaranteed transfer path to a 4 year school, i.e. if you take certain classes and make a certain GPA, there will be a place for you at a 4-year school. However, you have to research this for your particular intended major and the college that you want to ultimately attend.
3. Maximize the federal and state aid available to you. Research the Pell grant and any state aid you might be eligible for.
4. Get a good idea of what need based financial aid you might be getting from the 4 year colleges you are considering. Each college provides the estimated cost calculator (called Net Cost Calculator) on their website where you plug in your and your family's income, assets, etc. and you get an estimate of how much they expect you to pay. While it's an estimate, it will give you some idea of where you stand money wise.
5. Research the merit based financial aid that might be available to you. Some colleges give significant discounts on tuition for certain test scores/GPAs - see if any of that is applicable to you.
6. Finally, spend some time (not too much) researching any scholarships that you might be eligible for based on your hobbies, volunteer activities, background, ethnicity, your parents' work, your religious institution, etc. Those are usually not large, but still can make the costs more manageable.
Carolyn Bee
Support Customer Experience Manager
5
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Carolyn’s Answer
Hi Mayra,
I understand how you feel. I grew up in a family that did not have a lot of money to contribute towards college which was a bit intimidating when I started applying for schools. If you do have a better sense of what school you will be applying to, make sure you do some research to see what kind of scholarships and grants are available that you can apply for. Often times there are general ones for the school, and then specific ones depending on what kind of program you're enrolled in. It does take a bit of work to fill out the applications and write essays, but it is worth it if you are awarded some money!
Another thing to consider is federal student financial aid. I'm not sure if or how much your family is able to help contribute, but applying for FAFSA (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa) helped me out a lot when I was in school. I was awarded a lot of grant money which helped off set the cost of tuition and books for me. Everyone's personal situation is different, but it doesn't hurt to apply and see what you can be awarded. I hope this helps!
I understand how you feel. I grew up in a family that did not have a lot of money to contribute towards college which was a bit intimidating when I started applying for schools. If you do have a better sense of what school you will be applying to, make sure you do some research to see what kind of scholarships and grants are available that you can apply for. Often times there are general ones for the school, and then specific ones depending on what kind of program you're enrolled in. It does take a bit of work to fill out the applications and write essays, but it is worth it if you are awarded some money!
Another thing to consider is federal student financial aid. I'm not sure if or how much your family is able to help contribute, but applying for FAFSA (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa) helped me out a lot when I was in school. I was awarded a lot of grant money which helped off set the cost of tuition and books for me. Everyone's personal situation is different, but it doesn't hurt to apply and see what you can be awarded. I hope this helps!