Back-to-School Tips: Saving Money on College Tuition

One of the best ways to save money on college tuition is to attend a community college. Many freshman and sophomore classes are required courses that can be applied to any 4 year degree. Taking the basics like Calculus, Communications and a few electives at a local community college can cut your college tuition bill by 75 percent.

Calculating Tuition

College courses have credit hours assigned to them. Most college courses are three to four credit hours. Tuition is charged by the credit hour. To calculate the cost for a single course, multiply the number of credit hours by the tuition rate. For example a course with three credit hours would cost $300.00 if the tuition was $100.00 per credit hour. Depending on the individual school, full-time enrollment in a college requires 12 to 16 credit hours per semester.

In addition to tuition, college costs include lab fees, student fees, books, supplies and other fees depending on the courses taken. If a student plans to live on campus add housing and meals to the total college bill.

Community College Tuition

The cost to attend a local community college is surprisingly affordable when compared to a four year state or private school. Using Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) as an example, the tuition for the 2010-2011 school year is as follows:

In-District Tuition (you live in Arkansas and in Benton County) $70.00 per credit hour.

Out-of-District Tuition (you live in Arkansas) $110.00 per credit hour.

Contiguous Counties (you live in a county bordering Benton County) $110.00 per credit hour.

Out-of-State Tuition: $155.00 per credit hour.

Figuring a total of 13 credit hours, tuition alone for one semester at NWACC ranges from $910.00 to $2015.00. This does not include books or fees.

State College Tuition

Tuition for a state college is less expensive than a private college. It is more expensive than a community college. Most state schools will accept transfer students from local community colleges with very few exceptions. To compare 2010-2011 tuition rates, using University of Arkansas (U of A) as an example, the tuition rates for the University of Arkansas are as follows:

In-State Tuition: $173.68 per credit hour.

Out-of-State Tuition: $481.43 per credit hour.

A student taking 13 credit hours at any of the University of Arkansas campuses will pay $2257.84 to $6258.59 per semester. This does not include fees, meals, housing or books.

The Case for Community College

Community colleges offer the same undergraduate courses as most major 4 year universities. The difference is the cost per credit hour. The professors are just as qualified to teach the subject matter as in a four-year university. Students can transfer from a community college to a local state college to complete their 4 year degree; usually with no loss of credit.

Parents who have to foot the bill for college tuition will find that their money goes farther at a community college. Not all students qualify for Pell Grants or financial aid. In order to participate in a work-study program, a student must be eligible for financial aid. While some students receive scholarships, many do not. After exhausting all grants, aid and scholarship options; a large tuition bill may still exist.

Unless a student knows that they want to pursue a high-level career in law, medicine or academia; where they obtain their degree does not matter (providing it is bona-fide school and not a degree mill).

Saving money on college tuition is a good reason to attend a community college. For some families, it may make the difference as to whether or not their kids get a college degree or not. For others, it makes a difference in the amount of debt a student has to pay back after graduation. Community colleges offer quality education at a bargain price - they are worth looking into.

Other articles you may enjoy:

Back to School: Finding the Best Deal on College Textbooks

Top Ten Free Resources for Homeschoolers

A Guide to Homeschool Regulations in the United States

Sources:

Northwest Arkansas Community College: tuition and fees

University of Arkansas: tuition and fees