Can I Save Money Going to Tech School?
If you are trying reduce tuition costs for your education, you may consider going to a tech school instead of a traditional college. This will give you a chance to get a degree in less than two years, but it may limit your ability to find high-paying work in the future. Before you sign up for something like this, you need to make sure you will actually save money in the long run. Here is a quick analysis to help you determine that.
The Cost of Tuition
The biggest cost you will encounter in tech school is tuition. This will vary by school, but it usually ranges between $150 and $250 per credit hour. If you are taking 12 hours of classes for a semester, you might have $1,800 to $3,000 in tuition costs to pay for. You can contact your school for more information about the specific amount you have to pay, but that gives you an idea of the base expenses you may encounter.
The Cost of Fees
Most classes will have fees on top of the money you pay for tuition. You may have to pay $50 to use lab equipment or $100 to go on class field trips. This is money that you will know about upfront, but it is still a hefty expense to keep in mind.
The Cost of Books and Supplies
Books and school supplies are incredibly expensive, no matter what kind of degree you’re going through. You can rent textbooks to save a bit of money every semester, but you will still need project materials to go through your classes. Sometimes you know what the cost of these supplies will be upfront, and other times you just have to come up with the money on the spot. Plan to have at least $1,000 a semester in backup money, just in case something like this comes up. If it doesn’t, you have more money to pay for everything else you need.
The Cost of Living
On top of all the costs mentioned above, you are going to need a place to stay and food to eat. Some technical colleges have dormitories to stay in, and others expect you to live off campus. Whatever the case may be, you will have to factor your rent, food, utilities, and general expenses into your cost of attendance.
How Scholarships Work at Tech Schools
Not all scholarship programs will work for technical schools. In fact, many scholarship providers require recipients to attend a four year university. You will need to think about this before you decide where you want to get your education, in case the scholarships you have won won’t work at the school you choose. Even if you manage to save money at a tech school, it’ll be no good if you lack the financial aid to cover your costs.
Make the Best of Both Worlds
Want to earn a four year degree while saving money in college with tech school? You could choose to go to a tech school for the first two years of your degree, then transfer to a traditional university. Of course, you will need to make sure that the credits from the junior college will be accepted at the university. If not, you may be better off just going to the school you plan to be at in the first place. Do your research well in advance, and you’re sure to find an affordable education to build your career on.
