6 Ways to Save Money While Attending Community College

6 Ways to Save Money While Attending Community College

Going to community college is in and of itself a great way to save money on tuition costs. But we’ve still got bills to pay – whether you’re planning on transferring to a four-year college or entering straight into the workforce, saving money is in general a good idea. Here are some top ways to maximize your savings while attending community college.

Textbooks

Textbooks are expensive. There’s no getting around it. Or is there? Turns out, there are plenty of ways to save money on college textbooks. From buying used, to renting, to sharing with a classmate, to simply going for the ebook – there are many options outside of forking over hundreds of dollars for a textbook (that you might end up barely using.)

Check out @espdaniella’s video for a few additional suggestions.

Part-Time Job

The flexibility of community college classes makes packing your free time with jobs and side hustles a lot easier than at a four-year college. Take a night class and work a day shift – or, look for part-time jobs on campus, so your work commute and your school commute are a package deal.

Public Transportation

Speaking of commuting – we’ve all seen the gas prices. Driving to school and back every day can get expensive. Look into local offerings for bus routes. Many community colleges also have discounted (or even free!) programs for students to use public transportation.

Or, maybe you have a classmate that lives nearby. Carpooling isn’t just a great way to save (or even earn, if you get enough passengers) some extra money, but it’s also great for the environment.

Student Discounts

If you’re going to be spending, you might as well be spending less. Thankfully, many companies understand that students’ wallets are often pretty empty and offer plenty of discount programs with proof of enrollment. This ranges from entertainment like streaming services to big ticket items like laptops or other tech. If you’re buying something, it’s worth checking to see if you can save just by being a student.

Scholarships

Another great way to save money is through scholarships. A few essays on roughly the same topic can earn you anywhere from $50 to $50,000. While there are plenty of scholarships open to all students, there are some in particular aimed at community college students – like the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society scholarships and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Transfer Scholarship program. It’s also worth it to check out local businesses – many of them offer less known and therefore less competitive scholarships to students in the area, giving you a better shot at earning some serious scholar dollars.

Community Resources

Many colleges and most communities have resources to help people save money. Whether it’s on-campus childcare, free food pantries, college shuttles, or medical/mental health services, it’s always worth seeing what is offered that might help you get that extra bit closer to your budgetary goals. These resources are there for a reason. There is no shame in using them.

Attending a community college has so many benefits, and saving money is just one of them! Check out our article to learn even more about what community college can do for you.