You want the best school for your child's education or your own but you have to be conscious of the rising costs of colleges. You don't want to settle for second best and you really don't have to. There are a lot of great affordable colleges and universities, if you know what to look for and find them.
Instructions
1. Make your decision on a major later and save on tuition. There are many schools that are recognized for their excellence in the field of Liberal Arts. This is what every student starts out taking anyway while fulfilling their core courses. You can go to a great liberal arts school for the first two years and then transfer to one that is excellent in the field you've chosen to pursue. You will still get your diploma from the four year institution even as a transfer student.
2. Compare schools by their location. Schools found in the South and the Southwest usually have the least expensive tuition and fees. The cost of living off campus is much cheaper as well. The schools in the Northeast have the highest tuition and fees. The northwest and central states lie in the middle of the two where costs are concerned. Look at the schools in the least expensive areas first and see if you can find a terrific school program that you like.
3. Investigate the cost factors involved by population. College life in the city is always the mot expensive as city life is higher period. The suburban areas are less pricey but colleges that are tucked out of the way in more rural settings are usually the cheapest places to live and go to school. Apartment costs, gasoline, food, and school costs always go up with the population, so choose a more rural setting for cost effectiveness.
4. Search locally. The colleges and universities in the state where you live usually offer huge discounts to in state students. Check out their programs and the kind of financial aid they offer. Remember that most schools have programs where students can work on campus and receive a deal on their expenses, too.
5. Do some internet research. Look for the top colleges in your field of study. Look at the lowest priced campuses. Check out the greatest degree of financial help available. Don't rule out scholarships. They're given for many things besides academic excellence and they can really help financially.
6. Use the college match maker program online. There is no cost to use this service. It will help you to narrow down your search for affordable education choices in your field of study and your area of choice to live in.
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