Student Loan Dodgers

For some students, four years of a college education is simply too much to afford. Accelerating their college career can reduce the amount of time spent in the classroom, which reduces the overall cost of college. How do they do it?

For many students, the three-year journey through college starts in high school. High school students can accumulate college credits by taking and scoring well on Advanced Placement examinations. Generally, the cost of an AP exam is less than the cost of a college course, and for public school students, the cost of instruction is generally free.

Another way to accumulate college credits is to take courses online. Many colleges and universities are now offering online courses in both major subjects and to fulfill general education requirements. The advantage of online courses is that students can log on at convenient times to complete their work, and can take courses during the spring and summer semesters without having to be on campus.

For students who will be around, the Spring and Summer semesters present a great opportunity to grab a few extra classes at lower tuition rates. Spring-Summer classes usually take half of a semester to complete and offer the same number of credits toward graduation.

Some institutions offer compressed classes that can be completed in the space of one or two weeks. These intensive 40-hour per week classes are often offered to graduate students, but some undergrad programs also feature these high-intensity courses.

Another great opportunity to get college credits is to take classes at a local community college and transfer the credits back to your home institution. You’ll need to work with an academic advisor to make sure the credit transfers, but this can be a good way to clear out general education and foreign language requirements for a fraction of the cost of the same courses at the university.