If you cut classes in high school, you get in trouble. But do it in college and you could save money.
How so?
College tuition is generally based on “per unit” costs. To graduate, you need a minimum number of units. Some of those units must be earned attending classes specific to the degree you wish to earn. Others are simply general education requirements that don’t specifically pertain to your major.
If you wanted to earn a bachelor’s degree in journalism, for example, you’d spend about two years on general education and liberal arts courses-a smattering of English, economics, philosophy, language, science and math. The classes that pertain to your major require the other two years of study.
In many cases, where you earn those general education units doesn’t matter. You can take advanced-placement classes in high school, attend a junior college or sometimes pass a test. The fact that you satisfy these requirements outside of the university system generally does not affect how quickly you graduate or the imprimatur on your degree. It simply saves you money.
If, for example, you attend a junior college for two years before transferring to Princeton, your degree still carries the Princeton label. There’s no need to mention on your resume, in job interviews or even in polite conversation that you attended an Ivy League school only for your last two years of study. And it saves a fortune.
Consider the hypothetical Craig Costcutter from Colorado, who dreams of one day attending Harvard.
If Costcutter goes directly to Harvard, he’ll spend $19,820 annually on tuition, $6,410 on room and board, $1,600 on transportation (including flights home) and $1,920 on other expenses, according to The College Board. Grand total: $29,750 a year, or a whopping $119,000 over his four-year course of study.
What happens if Costcutter spends his first two years studying at Colorado Northwestern Community College while living at home? He saves a spectacular $51,790 or more.
That’s simply because the cost of tuition, fees and books at CNCC amounts to just $750 a year. Living expenses for commuters-the ones some parents might argue aren’t college expenses at all-add $3,105, for a total cost of just $3,855 annually.
Not interested in attending junior college, but still want to find ways to cut the cost of getting a degree?
The savings are not as dramatic, but high school students can whittle down their college costs by taking advanced-placement courses. These courses earn units toward your general education requirements in college as well as high school credits.
It’s difficult to take enough advanced-placement classes to shave more than a semester off your college stint. But if you’re going to a university that charges $300 per unit, which isn’t unusual these days, each transferable three-unit advanced-placement course saves you $900. If you accumulate 18 units, your savings amount to $5,400.
Finally, some students can also earn college credits by simply “testing” out of certain classes.
Not all universities offer this option, but those that do usually give students academic credit if they’re able to demonstrate proficiency in certain subjects by taking standardized tests, such as the AP and CLEP administered by The College Board. Those who pass are allowed to skip the classes and either graduate with fewer units or get unit credit for classes not attended.
Older students, who have spent several years working or raising children, may also be able to skip subjects by proving that their life experience has taught them enough to forgo some courses. The burden of proof can be substantial, with colleges requiring essays or oral presentations. However, the savings can be impressive.
Anyone who aims to cut college costs in this way needs to be cautious, however. Students must discuss their plans with high-school or college counselors to be certain that units earned in high school or junior college will transfer to the four-year college or university they choose. In addition, those who want to take advantage of the test-out option will have to shop carefully for schools.
If you are uncertain about the information you are receiving from a high-school or junior-college counselor, call the admissions office, financial aid office or an academic counselor at your target school. Make up a list of what you want to know and ask. In this case, being shy isn’t cute-it’s costly.
