Georgia Highlands College is dedicated to helping students like you graduate career-ready with little to no debt. GHC’s “Cut College Costs in 60 Seconds” video series is a helpful way for students across the state and nation to learn the best practices for maximizing a college return on investment!

Visit our “Future Students” page for more information on GHC or Apply Today! Want to compare college costs? Check out the differences between a few colleges in Georgia by visiting our “Compare Costs” page.

Now, here’s a few tips for #TakingCharge and Cutting College Costs:

• Make the Most of Free, Easy Cash

  Each year, college students leave heaps of free, easy cash on the table. And these funds are specifically to help you pay for college. All you have to do is ask. Start by filling out your FAFSA. Then, apply to any state-sponsored scholarship or grant program, like the HOPE scholarship in Georgia, and federal programs like the Pell Grant. Also, don’t forget to apply for local scholarships at the college you’ll be attending, like the GHC Foundation Scholarships.

• Avoid Loans

  If you have extra costs or your scholarships and grants don’t cover the full tuition price, look into college payment plans. With college payment plans, you can pay for college as you go, and as long as you make your monthly payments on time, you won’t have debt or interest to pay back. You can do this at GHC through Nelnet.

• Keep Your Grades Up!

  Scholarships and grants often require you to keep up your grades. So, find out what requirements you have to meet for each scholarship or grant you’re receiving and work to maintain each semester after semester.

• Textbook Alternatives

  Textbooks can be an expensive part of college. But they don’t have to be. Find out about colleges offering free textbook alternatives, like the Open Educational Resources at GHC. Look into leasing and rental options from book vendors online and in your campus bookstore. Also, research how to check-out textbooks from your campus library.

• Take More. Pay Less.

  If you take one class or ten in a semester, you pay the same amount of fees. If you can, take a full load each semester. Find out how many credit hours it takes to complete the degree you’re working toward and divide that up between the number of years you want to finish, and you’ll save tons!

• Make Smart Choices

  Students who go to two-year colleges, sometimes referred to as community colleges or state colleges, for their associate degree before transferring to larger four-year colleges pay far less for the same classes. In fact, students who complete at a two-year college first are 72 percent more successful in completing their bachelor’s.