The cost of living has dramatically increased in the recent decade. Unfortunately, so has the college tuition; in fact, it skyrocketed to the levels that are 100 percent or even 200 percent higher than in the 1980s or the 1990s.
For example, the average tuition for four years in a private non-profit institution in the late 1980s cost about $15,000 in 2017 dollars. Compared to today’s average cost for the latest school year – $34,000 – it doesn’t seem like such a high cost.
The situation with the cost of tuition in public institutions has gotten even worse. For example, the average cost for students at four-year institutions in the late 1980s was about $3,200. In 2017, this cost increased by 213 percent (!) to $9,970.
That’s why the average student loan debt for the Class of 2017 has risen to $39,400, an unprecedented figure which represents a 6 percent increase from 2016.
With all these rising costs, how can one afford a good college tuition? Well, it’s no time to panic yet. Of course, if you’re from a middle-class family, you would love if FAFSA folks could come to your home and see if they could help find some extra ten grand you don’t need, but that’s not a good way to deal with the problem now.
Instead, let’s take a look at the ways you can cut the price of college tuition.
1. Live Off-Campus after Your First Year
Living on campus is lots of fun and is something that every student needs to experience. However, it’s also a really significant source of spending that could burn a hole in your pocket.
For example, let’s make a quick comparison to demonstrate the difference. According to College Factual, the on-campus housing charge for an average student at Boston University was $10,080 in the 2017-2018 school year, and the cost a dining plan was $5,190.
According to the website, add the cost of books required for writing a research paper or an essay, and other expenses, you get $18,220 for one year. That’s $79,489 for four years.
On the other hand, if you live on campus during the first year and then move to an apartment, you can reduce the cost of living. For example, if you share rent cost with a friend, you could bring the cost down to the levels you find much more reasonable (besides, this environment is more conducive to activities like essay writing because of the lack of usual dorm distractions).
2. Cook your own meals.
As it was mentioned in the previous section, the cost of an average dining plan at Boston University was $5,190. If you choose to eat out a lot, this figure will be significantly higher.
A good way to bring these costs down is to cook your own meals. For example, you can explore your area and locate some supermarkets or farmer markets that offer cheaper prices for common ingredients such as chicken, bell peppers, rice, eggs, and onions.
Just make sure that you learn at least a few recipes before leaving for college so you can make them quickly without too much effort. This’ll make you more efficient so you’ll have more time for activities such as writing a research paper.
3. Consider Getting a Part-Time Job or Side Hustle
Despite significant time requirements of activities like essay writing, part-time jobs such as tutoring in a paper writing service are becoming more and more popular among students because of the rising costs of tuition.
According to Atlantic, Georgetown University has completed a research on working students and found that almost 40 percent of undergraduate students and 76 percent of graduate students worked at least 30 hours a week in 2014.
And these figures could be even higher now because the costs continue to rise. For example, writing a research paper requires at least a couple of books, too, so don’t forget these costs as well.
“I worked in an academic paper writing service so I improve my writing skills and get a good part-time income,” says Chuck Ball, a student. “For me, it was a good option because I could work from the dorm.”
This evidence supports the claim that a part-time job can be a great support to students, so consider getting one to cover some living costs.
4. Apply for Scholarships all throughout College
If you applied for a scholarship and didn’t get it, that’s not the reason to stop sending your application.
“There are many other scholarships available for current college students, and you should try to apply for them,” says Molly Houston, a student career counselor at A-Writer. “As a current student, you’ll have more experience in essay writing and other areas, and projects to show off, too.”
So, look for and apply for scholarships; for example, you can try those offered by your college or student contests that offer a financial reward for a subject-specific project such as writing a research paper or making a science project.
5. Take Advantage of Employer Reimbursement Programs
If you’re okay with getting a part-time job such as college paper writing service while a student, then you should definitely consider working for a company that helps to pay for your degree. From a paper writing service to a large retailer, there are many well-known companies that are ready to help, but on one condition: your average grades should not sink lower a B, which is totally reasonable.
If this sounds good, then you can start looking for these companies. Among the most prominent ones that offer reimbursement are Starbucks, Best Buy, and Walmart.
As you can see there are many ways in which you can reduce your college tuition check. Of course, they require significant effort and dedication on your part but they will help you to get a much-needed education for less money.
Lucy Benton is a marketing specialist, business consultant and helps people to turn their dreams into the profitable business. Now she is writing for marketing and business resources. Also Lucy has her own writing blog Prowriting where you can check her last publications.