It’s true that the price of college has skyrocketed. But that sentiment alone doesn’t tell the whole story for potential college-bound students. When we just say “college is too expensive,” we send a message that it’s completely unaffordable for low-socioeconomic families. While some 4-year private institutions may actually be out of reach, there are too many options to leave it at that. In fact, it’s irresponsible to use blanket statements like this because it creates a stigma that the price of college is simply a barrier for some families. The better alternative is to explore all the available options and compare the costs–before and after scholarships have been awarded to get a complete understanding of the expenses. 

The reason that college exploration and planning is so critical is because students often uncover schools and programs that make sense financially in a way that they wouldn’t have if they just accepted the “college is too expensive” dogma. Beyond using scholarships, federal student aid, and needs-based and merit-based awards, there are many ways that students can earn a degree without the burden of huge sums of debt. When we do the math–even in circumstances where some debt is accrued–college is often the best track to financial stability. This means that anyone who advises students about college ought to be aware of the various paths to degree attainment. The following four strategies are generally low- or no-cost options.   

Work-Based Tuition Reimbursement

The US government provides a tax incentive to businesses and organizations that provide tuition reimbursement to employees. This means that students can start working after high school, in some cases just part-time, and receive tuition support from their place of employment. For example, UPS offers $5,250 dollars per calendar year with a lifetime maximum of $25K to anyone to any employee (part-time or full-time) without restrictions on the number of hours or years of service regardless of degree program. Benefits like this can make college very affordable for students who have to work anyway or who would like to take advantage of the support. Making the decision to not attend college because of the cost without exploring work-based reimbursement can be detrimental to life-long earnings.  

2-Year Community Colleges

There are a number of reasons to consider 2-year community colleges and associates degrees. One reason is that the average annual cost of tuition at an in-state community college is less than $4,000. For students who have the option to live at home after graduation, attending the local community college can be a great way to earn a degree. Associate degrees–from community colleges and other institutions–are also a nice gateway to 4-year degree attainment. According to the National Student Clearinghouse, 40% of all transfer students into bachelors degrees come from 2-year programs, making “a more affordable route” to the 4-year degree. Whether it’s because of affordability or reluctance to start a 4-year journey, community colleges and associates degrees are solid options to consider rather than skipping college altogether, especially if families have given up based on the stigma that it isn’t accessible for them. 

Open Enrollment Institutions

Sometimes there’s a secondary reason why students don’t believe college is for them–not only are they afraid of the cost, they don’t have the grades or test scores for acceptance. This is where open-enrollment institutions and virtual schools come into play. There may be a prerequisite or two, but open-enrollment schools typically don’t have as many hurdles to jump as selective and high selective schools, and some of them even have rolling admissions whereby students can start whenever the next semester begins. Open-enrollment schools are almost always cheaper than their application heavy counterparts, and they allow students to start and stop more easily. Looking into schools that have an open-enrollment policy can lower the barrier for students who believe that every college and university is outright unaffordable. 

In-State Options

While in-state tuition at some universities is still too high for many families, exploring in-state options can equate to free tuition, depending on the program. To be clear, in-state tuition is different from in-state options and programs. Students can get in-state tuition because they reside in the state where they go to school, lowering the cost for them versus the price for out-of-state students. In-state options, on the other hand, are state-based programs where students can go to school at in-state colleges for free based on programs that the state and the schools have developed. For example, a state may have the need for additional healthcare workers so they incentivize that credential by providing free tuition at a community college for associates degrees in nursing, for example, with the ability to complete a bachelor’s degree thereafter at another in-state 4-year program. College advisors should be aware of these programs to provide assistance to families, especially if they’re already in a pathway or course sequence that matches the future degree. 

Training is for Everyone 

The divide between college and no-college has somehow become binary, and one of the reasons is the stigma of the cost. The problem is that not going to college comes with steep consequences when students don’t find a suitable alternative, such as the trades, military, or other credentials. The sentiments that “college is not for everyone” or that “college is too expensive” are unfortunately inaccurate and unfair. When students and families believe one or the other without exploring options, they miss out on the higher life-time earnings of people who earn a degree or complete “some” college. Maybe we ought to quit thinking about credentials–no matter what they are or where they come from–after high school as “college” and start referring to them as “training.” As Ohio ACTE President-Elect, Frank Polen, explained in an episode of College and Career Readiness Radio, “no one says that training isn’t for everyone.” 

If you would like to learn more about MaiaLearning’s tools and features that support students as they explore college options and plan for their futures, schedule a demo today.