college on the cheap

[byusteeler]

My son is a junior in high school. We have concurrent enrollment programs with 2 state colleges. High school Juniors and seniors can take up to 30 credit hours a year for the $35 application fee plus books and fees (for 1st half of the year 3 classes 12 credits less than $200 in books and fees) associated with the classes. They receive high school credit also. My son has 24 credit hours this year and will probably have the same next year so he will graduat high school with 48 of the 65 hours needed toward an associate degree. If we could pay for summer semesters (and he wanted to go to school in the summer) he could get his associates degree 3 months after graduating high school at a cost of less than $3000. If he were to decide to graduate high school a year early, which he could do because college courses give more credit than a standard high school course, there is a state program that gives a scholarship to early graduates so they would still pay his tuition for the first year of college after high school. It is a wonderflul program. In case your curious my sons college classes are math, photography, and criminal justice this semester. Personal finance, 2 flight and a computer class next semester. Although he may pick up another math class next semester, giving him an additional 4 credit hours. These classes are all taught at the high school during the regular school day. Next year he may need to have release and drive to the college for some of his classes as there are limited subjects available. Any way I have rambled on enough but if you have high schoolers it is worth looking into what is available.

[Lori63]

I agree. We went to a financial aid seminar the other night (I have a junior) and the guy was great-this was one of the things he mentioned as a way to save. Sounds like your son has more options than mine. Also, if your kids can take an Advanced Placement class that may count as a credit-depends on how they do on the exam.

[xboxundone]

One thing to help save money on college costs is go to a community college for the first year as they are usually cheaper but for the basic courses they offer jsut as good if not better quality and a cheaper price.