| College tuition costs go up every year, usually | | | | earned by writing and documenting the experience |
| averaging a 5% increase. Some private online schools | | | | from your life or your work (known as Assessment of |
| raise tuition twice a year. Then, there are the | | | | Prior Learning or Portfolio).o Certificates, Licenses and |
| expensive books, averaging $100 each. An online | | | | Training Programs may be given recommended |
| student, starting at a private, accredited online college, | | | | college credits by the American Council on Education |
| can pay $35000 - $65000 for an undergraduate | | | | (ACE). From the main ACE website, click on |
| degree. There are several ways to cut these costs. | | | | "Programs and Services". Search the National Guide to |
| Here are a few school options to consider:o Using the | | | | find your corporate classes, certificates, licenses or |
| Community College for some courses is the best way | | | | training program and see if ACE recommends college |
| to save money off a degree plan. Why spend $1000 | | | | credit for these. Most online schools will allow ACE |
| class for English, Algebra, Humanities or Psychology at | | | | recommended credits. (Military courses can also be |
| the private, online school when community college | | | | found on this website by clicking on Military Guide |
| classes run between $100 - $300/each. There are | | | | Online). |
| more fees at community college, but students still see | | | | There are so many ways to cut tuition costs. Don't |
| big savings. Want an online class? Most community | | | | look for tuition help at the online school, however. The |
| college offer online classes and some schools such as | | | | college wants your "warm, tuition-paying body" in their |
| Foothill College Online and Rio Salado College offer | | | | degree plan, taking all classes at their school. The |
| entire Associate degrees.o Military classes can gain | | | | school may advertise "life and work experience |
| college credit and cut costs. Send your SMART | | | | credits" but after you are enrolled, the adviser may not |
| Report, AARTS report or DD 214 to your college | | | | tell you about these options and you may have to fight |
| advisor and push for the credits listed on the military | | | | for them. |
| report. The classes might come in as electives, but this | | | | Just taking 5 General Education classes (English, Math, |
| still waives some classes and saves tuition dollars.o | | | | History, etc.) at a community college, plus gaining 15 |
| Life/Work Experience Credits can be in 2 forms-direct | | | | credits through ACE recommended credits, or military |
| credit and indirect credit. Some online schools have | | | | or Assessment of Prior Learning can cut your total |
| evaluated companies' training classes and have listed | | | | tuition $10000 or more. |
| the credits given for those courses. Or, credits can be | | | | |