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Alternatives to Student Loans

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Is there a way to go to college and not have student loans?

Is your child going to college in the next four years? Is your grandchild in high school? If so, take a moment or two to read this short article on alternatives to student loans. Please note! It is possible to go to college without $100,000 in student loans. Higher education costs are skyrocketing and it is time to fight back! Don't be saddled with massive student loans when there are alternatives.

Photo Credit by Gayle McLaughlin

Alternatives to Student Loans

Advanced Placement Classes in High School

If your child is a freshman, talk to him about taking college classes in high school. I have taught in a large suburban high school for many years. It is not uncommon for seniors to graduate with 25-30 college credit hours! This is equal to AN ENTIRE YEAR of college classes. This tip alone can save you and your student between $10,000 and $30,000 instantly. This wasn't available when I was in school, nor for my children. But it is extremely common now.

Alternatives to Student Loans

CLEP out of classes

College Level Examination Program is a way for you or your student to pass tests that give College credit. There are plenty of books and study courses that help you prepare for these tests. Many students and people going back to college can gain credit and test out of undergraduate courses. This program is managed by the College Board--the same organization that handles the SAT and AP classes. This one tip can save you thousands of dollars, depending on how many courses you can test out.

More alternative ways to student loans

Zero Debt for College Grads: From Student Loans to Financial Freedom

by: lynnette Khalfani

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 05/28/2012)

This book gives good links and info to how to stay out of debt.

Alternatives to Student Loans

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Alternatives to Student Loans

Community Colleges

One of the best kept secrets that is offered are community colleges. A student can receive up to 60 hours credit and get an Associates degree for $80.00 an hour credit. That is about a third of what a four year school costs. So a student could live at home and go to school for the first two years of college and get the same credits for at least a third of the price!!!

Studies show that first semester flunk out rate is phenomenal. This would enable the student to work and help pay expenses, while maturing a little bit before he goes to college.

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Let me know you stopped by!

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COUNTRYLUTHIER Feb 10, 2012 @ 9:28 pm | delete

Where were you 2 years ago??? Great information to share with my two college bound daughters soon. Great lense.

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curious0927 Feb 8, 2012 @ 7:43 am | delete

Great, especially since I'm working on my two daughters money for next year right now. The community college was great for my oldest, she will graduate with her Associates in Early Childhood Education with a Full Grant! Federal Grants are good for kids with parents that do not have degrees, and divorced. The most important being Parents without degrees. If they keep good grades, College is free. My daughter who is in a 4 year University needed much more than that. She still has to take partial loans since she has the grant, and 2 small scholarships. We have to find more scholarships for next year! I just cannot pay for it and her dad Won't...I just keep on looking for places like this and pray! Blessed!