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The average tuition for in-state students at our state universities has risen 6.6% this year to $6,185 per year. Believe it or not, that is still a bargain when compared to private colleges, which charge an average annual tuition of $23,712.*

As the costs of higher education continue to rise, it's very easy for would-be students to grow discouraged. College is expensive, but is not necessarily out of reach. There are several ways of lowering your education costs.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Community colleges are probably the best education bargain around. At an average cost of $2,361 per year, it makes good financial sense to look into a community college. You can save a big chunk of money on tuition, while completing the first two years of a four-year degree. Transfer agreements between community colleges and four-year colleges are becoming the norm, allowing students to transfer easily. Many community colleges have specialized Associate's Degree programs with courses and credits that are designed to transfer smoothly.

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

You may very well be eligible for financial aid... but you won't know unless you apply. The crucial first step is to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). I can't emphasize enough the importance of FAFSA! All financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships) stems from this important application. Visit the official FAFSA site at (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) for more information.

You might not think you can get financial aid, but it costs you nothing to try. Frankly, if you don't earn very much money now, you may find you are eligible for grants and loans that higher-earning people are not.

CREDIT FOR LIFE EXPERIENCE

In many cases, this come-on IS too good to be true. No legitimate college will allow you to exchange your life experience for academic work. Perhaps it could work for one or two courses, but schools which promise actual degrees should raise your suspicion.

Here's an example of how life experience could earn college credit legitimately. Let's say you've worked as a bookkeeper for many years and have decided you would like to advance your career and get a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. A college might give you credit for one or two of the most basic accounting courses in that degree program. This would reflect the knowledge and experience you already have, but you would still be responsible for completing the rest of the program. It's a good head start.

TESTING OUT OF COURSES

Another option, which is somewhat related to Credit For Life Experience, is to "test out" of certain courses. If you are knowledgible on a particular subject, you can take an exam that, if passed, will be recognized as college credit.

The CLEP (College Level Examination Program), for example, will evaluate your knowledge and skills in a variety of subjects. At present, a CLEP exam costs about $65, which is a great bargain compared to the cost of tuition for a comparable college course. For more information about CLEP, visit (http://www.collegeboard.com/s tudent/testing/clep/about.html )

* source: MSNBC article "College tuition still rising" (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/2 1420361)

Learn more about this author, Christine Conte.
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