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It’s no secret that college is expensive. Most students rack up a lot of student loan debt by the time they graduate. According to the Wall Street Journal, $37,172 is the average amount of debt accrued by college graduates in America. With that being the average, you can imagine how high the amount is for some people. Thinking about paying off all that debt when you start your career is the last thing you want to do. That’s why it is important to start saving money for college now. Some of the best ways to start saving for college include the following steps:
- opening a college fund
- getting a job
- applying for scholarships
- taking college classes for free now
Keep reading to learn more details about each of these steps as well as how High School of America can help you get started saving today!
Open a College Fund
While it is best to open a college fund as early as possible, it is not always realistic. Not every parent has the means to start a college fund for their child on the day they are born. However, parents who meet their own financial needs (debt-free, emergency fund, and retirement plan), should open a college fund for their children. Additionally, you can open one for yourself. Examples of tax-favored plans that Dave Ramsey suggests are Education IRA, 529 Plan, or Uniform Transfer/Gift to Minors Act.
… it is important to start saving money for college now.
Get a Job
Both part-time and full-time jobs look great on your college applications and can help you start saving money. Some of the best part-time jobs for high school students are all around you. Doing something you enjoy that also makes money is very rewarding and will help you learn how to manage your savings and checking accounts. If you feel like you don’t have time for a job, consider graduating high school early or attending an online high school. Quality online education is a great way to get ahead on college courses or just save you time by giving you a flexible schedule. This way, you can get a job and learn at your own pace, all while still working toward your high school diploma.
Apply for Scholarships
The nice thing about scholarships is that once you get the money, you never have to pay it back. It’s free, and all you have to is qualify and apply. There are thousands of scholarships out there, and you can fill out applications online. It is a smart decision to start setting aside time each week to fill out scholarship applications and see what can happen. Think about the things that set you apart, and search for those characteristics in scholarships to increase your chances of earning one. Scholarships usually benefit a specific group of people, such as women, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, location, special interests, and more
Take College Classes Now
Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered at most traditional high schools and are a great way to get a head start on college courses, meaning fewer courses that you have to pay for later. Talk to your high school advisor about what’s available in your area and how you can get ahead. If your high school doesn’t offer AP classes, check out your local community college for free college courses you can attend. Additionally, online high school is an excellent alternative to regular high school and great for getting ahead and saving money on college courses, especially when you feel like you have a lot of free time at school.
Budget Your Money
It is tempting every time you get a birthday card with money in it, or your mom hands you your allowance to spend it right away. Try to discipline yourself and save the money instead. If you aren’t to the point of saving it all yet, at least save a portion of it and put it somewhere safe like a savings account. This way, you don’t have easy access to it. You’ll soon learn that you can do without most things that you want to spend your money on. After you get into college and don’t have to take out a loan right away, you’ll have less to worry about and be proud of yourself.
Online High School
The High School of America is a great option for taking online courses or earning your whole high school diploma online. Taking classes online allows you to learn at your own pace, get ahead, and have time for traveling or working. It’s a fantastic way to save you both time and money. The best years of your life aren’t right now-they’re still ahead of you! Rather than worrying about debt and stressing over working full time your first semester of college just to get by, do what you can to save money now.
It is tempting every time you get a birthday card with money in it, or your mom hands you your allowance to spend it right away. Try to discipline yourself and save the money instead.
Saving Money for College with High School of America
By choosing to take online high school classes with High School of America you save money in a few different ways.
- High School of America offers some of the most affordable accredited online courses available today.
- High School of America provides interest-free payment plans, full tuition paid savings plans, and discounts for students who have prior credits that will transfer.
- High School of America offers a self-schedule and learn as you go schooling style which allows you to structure your schooling around a job which will allow you to both learn good life skills as well as allow you to earn money than you can start saving for future schooling.
- High School of America is an accredited academy. As such we do offer many different advanced placement courses. Some of these classes can be taken for some college credits as well.
- o This can save you money buy paying for credits that you need for your diploma and getting credits at the same time that you will need for your college degree.
Consider these reasons and more when thinking of ways to save money for college. If you are looking for a high school education that will set you up for success with education, life skills, and great savings, High School of America will be a great fit for you. Contact one of our academic advisors today to learn more about our school and how we can help you have a more successful future.