The Truth About Economizing for College: Shrinking the College Tab

This Element is an excerpt from The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price (9780132365703) by Lynn O'Shaughnessy. Available in print and digital formats.

Beyond conventional financial aid: old common-sense ideas and new innovations that can help you pay for college.

The most effective way to shrink college expenses is to think big. Aim for merit awards or fat financial aid packages. There are plenty of other opportunities, however, that you can seize to whittle down costs. Here are some great ideas to get you started . . . .