<p>I was just looking at ways to cut down the cost of college and figured out that I could attend summer school each summer and graduate in 3 years. Is this a good way to save money on college ? I dont hear of very many people doing it but it would seem like a simple way to save money.</p>
<p>Summer school classes can be pricey and if you need aid, you probably won’t get the needed aid for summer classes.</p>
<p>However, if you can take summer classes at the local CC for cheap and commute from home, then that might work. However, if that means that you can’t work or do internships, that might also be a consideration.</p>
<p>At u of MN cost per credit is the same as regular session. There is a separate link to apply for FA for summer so im not sure how that works. </p>
<p>Good idea on the CC we have one here. Even cheaper !</p>
<p>A lot depends on your major. Science, math, CS, some business areas, education have a lot of sequential prereqs, even in the upper level classes, that can’t be done in 3 years + summers. And they aren’t always offered every semester and especially in the summer. Generally with social science and humanities majors, once you take a couple introductory courses they serve as prereqs for upper level classes.</p>
<p>*There is a separate link to apply for FA for summer so im not sure how that works.
*</p>
<p>There is a link because you can take out a student loan if you take at least 6 credits. Don’t know if there are limits to the loan if you’ve already borrowed for that year. You won’t get a Pell grant and you may not get any state or institutional grants for the summer since those funds are largely for the school year students. </p>
<p>It’s often very difficult to get the aid needed for tuition, room and board during the summer months. Much cheaper to live at home and go to a CC. </p>
<p>What kind of aid do you get now?</p>
<p>A lot depends on your college. Some colleges do not allow courses to be transferred in from other colleges once you have matriculated (my DD’s school was one). That meant that summer courses needed to be taken at the university, and that also meant that room/board costs needed to be paid over the summer. DD did take 15 credits one summer…not a bargain…but it also meant she could only work part time instead of full time. I doubt that doing summer courses will save you money…but you could graduate sooner!</p>
<p>Last year for summer courses at my uni I had to pay per credit unless I took 6-9 credits which was a flat fee as it was considered full time. If I took 12 credits or more it would be costly. Although, it was cheaper then fall and spring. The way my fin aid office explained it was that you could take additional loan money only if you did not take out the max for the year already. </p>
<p>I agree with the others if your a science, math, or engineering major it may not actually help as you need to take certain pre reqs before you can take certain courses. For instance I cannot take a motor control course until I finish bio-mechanics and exercise physiology and motor control is only offered in the fall so although I will be taking summer courses for three years it will not help as I can only graduate a semester early. I would consider possibly just going for the full four years if possible especially if you need fin aid to pay for the summer school courses, and if you cannot take some of them at a community college because then you have to account for housing, and food. (unless you have a job)</p>