If your children are approaching the end of their high school years and will soon be heading off to college, then chances are you have had more than one sleepless night worrying about how to pay for it. College costs are on the rise and according to Forbes, a four-year degree could cost over $300,000 by the year 2018, depending on which school your child attends. However, you can cut the cost of your child’s college education by encouraging them to take online classes, as gaining hours this way has several financial advantages.
1. Transportation Costs Are Eliminated
Parking passes, shuttle badges, and the cost of operating a car on a college campus can add hundreds of dollars to college costs per semester. Along with the cost of insurance for a young driver, you may be looking at a final bill of $1,000 or more annually.
Some universities have stringent rules about students driving on campus and others do not allow underclassmen to keep a car at all. Signing up for classes online can help eliminate all of these issues and allow your child to take classes wherever he or she likes, whether at home, at the library, or at their favorite local coffee house.
2. E-Books Are Cheaper Than Textbooks
Few things can make the bill for a semester at college skyrocket faster than the cost of textbooks. Some books can cost $100 or more, even if they are only going to be used for one semester. While some universities offer buy-back programs at the end of the year, the refund is usually around half or less than half of what students paid at the outset. Virtual classes, such as those that are available at MVU Online, may offer many texts and other resources that are downloadable. This makes the reading requirements less expensive, as well as simpler to tote.
3. Meal Plans Are Not Necessary
One costly and often confusing component of paying for college is the meal plan. Some schools include it in their annual tuition package and others require you to pay for it separately. Even if you pay for a meal plan, your child may opt to eat elsewhere a lot of the time out of convenience, so that money may end up being wasted. However, when your child remains on your food budget while taking classes online, what you spend on making meals may be significantly less than what a campus meal plan costs.
Eliminating the need for a meal plan may save you money in other ways as well. For example, if your daughter wants to earn a degree by taking classes from UAB Online, the flexibility of doing so may allow her to eat nutritious meals on a more consistent basis. As a result, she may stay healthier, miss fewer classes due to illness, and avoid racking up expensive medical bills.
Online classes can ease the financial pinch you may be feeling as you prepare to send your children to college. Remember to take your time and browse available classes with your kids so that you both understand exactly what his or her university of choice has to offer.
