Today’s economy makes money management tough in every way, from buying groceries to paying mortgages, and paying college tuition for your children is certainly no exception. According to the College Board, a non-profit membership organization dedicated to assisting students in choosing the best colleges and also the creator the SAT test, the average cost of a 4-year college education costs slightly more than $26,000 a year. Fortunately, though, if you’re on a tight budget and your children aren’t set on attending any specific college, there are colleges where the tuition is substantially cheaper than the national average. It all depends on where your child goes as to how much you’ll end up paying. The following list is composed of several colleges that offer much more affordable tuition costs, which can save you a great deal of money without sacrificing your child’s education.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Offering plenty of choices when it comes to popular academic programs, this university will enable your child to obtain a respectable education for approximately $14,000 a year.
University of Texas at Dallas
Offering regular as well as guaranteed tuition, which was created to help students and their parents plan for the costs of college, your child can attend this university of approximately $10,000 per year.
University of Phoenix
This well-known college that offers both campus as well as distance learning offers a stellar education at lower than average rates. Their tuition rates do, however, depend on where you live as well as if your child chooses to take classes online or on site. For example, if your child lives in North Carolina and decides to earn his or her degree online, tuition costs would be about $9,000 a year in order to earn an Associates degree and slightly more for a Bachelors.
Warren Wilson College – Asheville, North Carolina
For approximately $14,000 per year to attend school at this college, your child can obtain a high quality education. Warren Wilson College is unique, and they offer a 4-semester Masters of Fine Arts degree for those interested in becoming professional writers.
Berry College – Mount Berry, Georgia
Another unique college, Berry College offers numerous on-campus jobs through their Work Experience program, which can help to lower your child’s tuition costs. Regular tuition is $23,000 for one year, but this can be substantially lower if your child agrees to work on campus. There are various jobs to choose from, and it’s very likely that your child can find a job that suits him or her.
Sinclair Community College – Montgomery County, Ohio
If your child isn’t opposed to attended a community college, at least in the beginning, this college boasts their low tuition rates, which the lowest in the entire state at $46 per semester hour, but this rate depends on where your child lives.
Berea College – Berea, Kentucky
This college is one of a kind as they don’t actually have tuition costs at all. All students who attend Berea College do so through a 4-year scholarship only, which is based on income. Despite being tuition-free, their programs are very high quality.
Deep Springs College – Deep Springs, California
Probably more unique than most colleges, Deep Springs College does not have tuition fees, but they only accept 30 male students at a time and students must agree to work on the school’s cattle and alfalfa farm. Admission is very competitive.
City University of New York Teacher’s Academy – New York, NY
Tuition at this college is absolutely free, but admissions is very competitive, and test scores must be very high in order to even be considered.
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Also located in New York, NY, this college, which only offers two programs, architecture and engineering, is free, as students receive full scholarships. Students do, however, have to pay for room and board.
