| A few thousand dollars might seem like a lot of money | | | | credit hours or 1/3rd of an associate degree. There |
| to some high school graduates, and it is for many from | | | | are also manuals available for CLEP tests aimed at |
| typical American households with median incomes or | | | | students who need to brush up on their knowledge |
| below. In the grand scheme of college tuition, however, | | | | base. It’s important to check with the college first, |
| it’s not enough to cover one full semester at most | | | | however, as some schools will give exemptions from |
| state universities, much less complete the first two | | | | having to take classes based on CLEP test |
| years of college with. | | | | performance but no college credit. |
| Most students who are concerned with getting an | | | | Total cost of six CLEP tests with study guides, |
| education on a budget know that community and | | | | assuming four 3 credit hour classes and two 4 credit |
| some online colleges offer a way to get the first two | | | | hour classes = $450 |
| years of a bachelor’s degree out of the way with | | | | Equivalent tuition for 20 credit hours based on a |
| minimal expense compared to the cost of the same | | | | minimal rate of $80 per credit hour = $1600 plus books |
| number of credit hours at a four year institution. Still, at | | | | and fees. |
| between $80 and $120 per credit hour, this cheaper | | | | The second step is to pursue scholarships. Many |
| alternative can easily cost well in excess of $4800 for | | | | students subscribe to the general perception that all |
| a two year degree, and that only covers tuition, not | | | | scholarships are based on academic merit. While many |
| books and fees. Though the lower end of the | | | | scholarships are based entirely on academic merit, |
| spectrum is still cheaper than the average annual tuition | | | | some are based on criteria as simple as where a |
| at most state colleges and universities, it can seem like | | | | student was born or the occupation of the |
| an insurmountable odd to overcome for cash strapped | | | | student’s parents. Some companies offer |
| students unable to qualify for federal or state grants. | | | | scholarships to students of employees. Some |
| Still, there are ways to make even the cheapest | | | | municipalities offer scholarships to students who are |
| colleges cheaper while still getting the same quality of | | | | attending in the region they grew up in. More |
| education, and more importantly, saving those student | | | | importantly, many scholarships are open to students |
| loans for when they’re really needed. | | | | from any walk of life regardless of past academic |
| The first step is to CLEP. CLEP stands for College | | | | performance or financial status, yet simply never get |
| Level Examination Programs, and is a way for | | | | awarded because no one applies for them. These |
| students to avoid taking classes in which they are | | | | scholarships often come into existence through a |
| already proficient and save a lot of money in the | | | | deceased person’s will or trust. Some may only |
| process. CLEP tests, and the corresponding credits | | | | provide one or two thousand for tuition, but in the case |
| they afford, are accepted by most community | | | | of a community college degree, that can easily cover |
| colleges across the nation and cost around $65. | | | | a sizeable portion of the total cost. |
| Compared to a 3 or 4 credit hour class at $100 per | | | | The trick is to look into available scholarships outside of |
| credit hour, that’s quite a savings There are limits to | | | | those offered by educational institutions. Most students |
| the number of credit hours a student can CLEP out of, | | | | would be surprised to see how much money is out |
| but most educational institutions will allow up to 20 | | | | there and how easily it can be obtained. |