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With skyrocketing costs of college tuition, it’s easy to think that college may be out of reach for some students. The truth of the matter is that if you’re willing to do a little detective work, you may discover that you can attend the college of your choice at a deep discount.
The first step you’ll take is to make a list of potential colleges. Next, take a look at their websites to see if they list tuition reduction programs, scholarships, or any other discounts for which you may qualify. Here are just a few factors that colleges consider for tuition reduction:
Tuition Discounts for Children of Alumni
If your parent or grandparent is an alumnus of the college of your choice, there is a good possibility that a college tuition reduction program exists. Often called legacy enrollment, colleges offer discounts to encourage alumni involvement (such as donations) in the college. Many colleges offer deep discounts to students, even if they’re applying for non-resident status.
Here are just a few colleges that offer discounts to children of alumni: Marshall University in Huntington, WV; Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida; and The College of Westchester in White Plains, New York.
Tuition Discounts for Twins and Multiples
In an article on About.com by Pamela Prindle Fierro entitled “College Scholarships for Twins & Multiples,” there are many colleges that offer tuition discounts to twins and multiple siblings that attend the college simultaneously. The good news is that the savings can be quite significant.
For instance, Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania will pay 45% of the tuition for twins and triplets, provided that all the siblings are enrolled full-time for each semester.
George Washington University in Washington D.C. offers a family tuition discount program when more than one sibling attends. The second sibling will receive a 50% discount on tuition.
Tuition Discounts for Summer Students
Summer enrollment is often much lower at two-year colleges and universities because there are often fewer financial aid packages offered to students in summer sessions; therefore, many colleges are offering tuition discounts to students who enroll in summer semesters. For instance, Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio is offering a 25% tuition discount to undergraduate students who attend either online or traditional classes in summer 2010.
The University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont also offers discounts to summer students. Students will receive a 15% summer discount for attending summer classes.
Merit-Based Tuition Discounts
There are many merit-based scholarships for students: National Merit scholars, high school valedictorians, and members of Phi Theta Kappa are eligible to apply for scholarships.
Merit-based scholarships are offered for artistic and athletic ability, as well as academic achievement. Many clubs and extracurricular activities are associated with organizations that offer scholarships.
How to Get Started
Graduating seniors should contact their guidance counselors to see if any of their extracurricular activities qualify them for scholarships. It’s also a good idea to contact the college of your choice well ahead of time to see what tuition discounts and scholarship programs they offer for incoming students.
The bottom line is that you should do some comparative shopping when it comes to tuition rates. Like the sticker price on a new car, there may be room for negotiation on the price you pay for a college education.
