College is expensive, it is a simple fact. College costs keep going up and most people can’t afford it without taking out loans. If they are lucky they can pay for it all with savings, scholarships, financial aid, and grants. Loans are the most popular type of aid for college and most students will graduate with some student loans.

How much are your student loans worth? Did you graduate with a lot of debt? When you went looking for loans, the first loan you got was probably the government Stafford Loan because of the low rate. If you have financial need, you can get the Subsidized Stafford Loan which allows you to not pay interest on it while you are in college.

Once your government loans have run dry, you will need to look for other loans. Your parents could get a loan, you could go to a private student loan service, take out a second mortgage, or use a credit card. I recommend that you don’t take out a second mortgage unless you absolutely have to and I highly encourage you to NEVER use a credit card to pay for college.

Another way to save for college is to go to a cheaper school. Most cheaper schools are state schools. Don’t think that cheap means lower quality. They only cost less because the also get money from the government. Many state schools are even better than a lot of more expensive private schools.

How can you use less loans? The best way to minimize student loan debt is by by not taking out loans in the first place. Unless you are a super genius and feel you must go to an Ivy League school, go to one of the top state schools and save a lot of money.

You can save even more money if you go to a community college for two years first and then transfer to a state school. State schools are cheap, but community colleges (which are state schools too, but they are only two years as opposed to four) are often have the price.

Commuting is another way to save a lot of money. A lot people end up not liking dorm life anyway. If you can commute from home you won’t have to pay room and board and your parents will support you, if they agree, the same as they did when you were in high school.

A final way to pay for college is to work. Get a part time job during the semester and work full time over break to save the most money possible.