Keeping the Cost of College Down (continued)

Some high schools offer career-focused educational programs that provide students with a set of high school courses that are formally linked to courses offered at local community or technical colleges. These "tech-prep" or "school-to-career" programs, as they are often called, offer students the opportunity to go through a sequence of career-focused courses in high school that prepares them for an apprenticeship program or for a specialized sequence of college courses in a particular occupational field. Thus, students who master certain technical and occupational skills and knowledge in high school do not need to repeat the same courses when they enter college or an apprenticeship.

In some of these programs, students who take the specialized sequence of courses in high school can sometimes be awarded college credit or advanced standing in the occupational program at the college level. This can save students time and money. It also means that students can gain access to more advanced college courses much earlier in their college careers. To find out if such career-focused programs exist in your community, ask your child's guidance counselor or teacher, or staff at a local college. To learn more about career-focused programs like "tech-prep" and "school-to-career" programs:

School-to-Work Opportunities Information Center
400 Virginia Avenue SW, Room 210
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: 202.401.6222

National Tech-Prep Network
P.O. Box 21689
Waco, TX 76702-1689
Phone: 800.972.2766

Center for Occupational Research and Development
600 Lake Air Drive
Waco, TX 76710
Phone: 817.772.8756  

Enroll in a 2-year college: then transfer to a 4-year college

Local community colleges are usually the least expensive. In addition to charging low tuition, they are located in the area in which the student lives, which makes it possible to save by living at home and commuting to campus.

After completing an associate's degree or certificate in a two-year college, students often can transfer to a four-year college, students often can transfer to a four-year college and work toward a bachelor's degree.

If your child chooses this route, he or she needs to take courses in the two-year college that will count toward a bachelor's degree. Certain community college courses may not be transferable to a four-year institution. Community college admissions officers can explain transfer terms and opportunities.

Work part-time while in school

Some students choose to work part time and attend college part time. If your child wishes to do this, he or she should make sure that work, classes, and time for studying do not conflict. Some institutions offer programs that enable students to combine work and classes. Although going to school part time is a good option for many students, it usually takes longer for part-time students to earn their degrees.

Take advantage of Armed Forces education programs