20 Ways to Save on College Expenses

There’s no sugarcoating it—college is ridiculously expensive. A private university can run a tab of more than $35,000 a year. In-state college is a more “reasonable” $17,000 annually. Even community college can cost almost $5,000 each year. 

To give your college student and your budget an education, check out these 20 tips for cutting college expenses. Then print out this list and subtly leave it where your kid is sure to find it: taped to their computer screen or forehead, perhaps!  

1. Extra credit. Some colleges will let you graduate with their name on your degree, even if some of your classes were taken elsewhere. Check if you can satisfy lower-division pre-requisites at a community college. Better yet, start your college career at a community college and transfer to a larger University after two years. This will basically cut your price tag in half. 

2. Avoid the bookstore. Or at least the over-priced campus one. You can buy the books you need online, or ask around and see if anyone you know has already taken the class and will trade or sell you the books you need. Check out CampusBooks to buy, sell and even rent your books online.

3. Don’t shop hungry. A growling stomach will land you with more food than you really need. All those veggies you bought are bound to end up in a green mush in the bottom of your fridge.  

4. Befriend your discount grocer. Make sure to find an inexpensive food store near you (Whole Foods, it goes without saying, is probably not your friend). Stores like Trader Joe’s are a great option, as are discount grocery stores like Save-a-Lot, which can cut your grocery bills by 40%. 

5. Shop with friends. Pool your resources with several friends and get a membership to Costco. Buy in bulk, reap the savings, and split the goods. Costco is especially good for household staples like soap and toilet paper—buy a case and split it. 

6. Plan ahead. Figure out your menu ahead of time so you know exactly what you need. (Hint: pasta, Top Ramen, and oatmeal are all cheap and filling.) For healthy choices, head for the farmer’s market for less expensive produce.  

7. Park your car. Surely it’s not news at this point that gas is expensive. So park your car somewhere safe and leave it. Most colleges have free shuttles you can hop on, or buy a cheap bike and get some exercise. You can also check if your schedule aligns with anyone else near you and carpool. 

8. Get offline. This may seem unfeasible to you but it can save a lot—and you may even end up enjoying the peace. Your school will most likely offer wireless access and/or a computer lab. Do your Facebooking/emailing/trolling there instead of paying to do it at home. 

9. Save on laughs. It’s a bummer to be the only one who can’t afford the movie/meal/show/club. Instead, suggest a plan yourself. Head for a matinee and sneak in your own popcorn. Check out the local paper to find free shows and concerts near you. You can also do a little research and find out what museums and theatres honor student discounts. Costco offers discounts on movie tickets too (see tip #5). 

10. Travel cheap. In addition to carpooling to class, you can also carpool home for the holidays. Ask around to see if any other students are heading in the same direction around the same time—you’ll save a fortune over a plane ticket or a solo trip. (You can also take turns driving and sleeping to make it home quicker.) If a car trip isn’t an option, book your trip on a site like Priceline, which will find the cheapest ticket around. 

11. A room with a view. A view of your roommate, that is. Sharing an apartment or dorm room is infinitely cheaper than splurging on your own place. 

12. Meal plan. If you have a meal plan included with your tuition, use it. Eat up and take home leftovers if they’ll let you. (If not, bring a big backpack…) If you don’t have a plan, pack your own lunch and bring it to class. It just doesn’t make sense to eat out every day when you have perfectly good food at home (do we sound like your mother now? Well, it’s good advice). 

13. Skip your date with Joe. How much does your latte/mocha/Frappuccino cost? At least three or four bucks right? Every day. That’s about $100 a month. Forget the overpriced coffee shop and make your morning rocket fuel at home. 

14. Exercise, naturally. Instead of a pricey gym membership, see if your school has a workout facility and use that. Or head outside for a run, walk, or bike ride. 

15. Music to your wallet. These days, there’s almost no reason to pay for music. There are so many websites offering free legal downloads, so poke around before you pay. 

16. Bookworm budget. If you love to read (despite the heavy workload of your course reading), get your books used or at the library (just remember to return them on time). 

17. Water daily. We all know that drinking water is vital to our health, but bottled water isn’t so good for our wallets. The truth is, in most places tap water is just fine. And if it’s not particularly pure, get a filter. You’ll still save over bottled water. 

18. Smart shopping. Buying electronics is a great time to cash in on student discounts. Apple is particularly generous with their student and teacher deals, and will often throw in something for free.

19. Decorate, schmecorate. Of course you want your living space to be comfortable and pleasant, but you’ll have plenty of homes in your life—your dorm room or studio apartment isn’t the place to sink your savings. Plus, there are tons of ways to decorate on the cheap. Good Housekeeping, for example, has decorating ideas for under $35. 

20. Save on bills. Keep your lights/AC/heat/electronics/etc. off and unplugged when they are not in use. And make sure to pay your bills before they’re due to avoid late fees. 

If you can do a little preparation and establish good habits from the start, you’ll be able to focus on school instead of on your wallet. After all, college should be a time for learning, forming relationships, and having fun—not stressing out about money. Good luck!

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