The cost of attending college increases each year. That is a fact. Here are five ways you can cut college costs.

Get tested:
Are you good in at least one academic subject? Are you bilingual? Are you good with art? If so, some colleges will allow you to “test out” of a class in a variety of subjects if you can show proficiency.

The College Level Examination Program offers 33 exams in a variety of subjects and disciplines. If you merely pass the exam, usually with a score of 70 percent, you can be awarded anywhere from three to 12 semester credit hours. The fees for taking the exam are relatively cheap and are always less than what one would pay for the class on the same subject.

I took the CLEP exam for Spanish and achieved a perfect score on it. As a result, I was awarded 12 semester credit hours in Spanish. In just under two hours, I knocked out the equivalent of a full time semester’s worth of credits. Aside from the money, I saved myself the equivalent of 16 weeks of coursework.

While in high school, students can take Advanced Placement, or AP, classes. If a student receives a “C” or above on the AP exam many colleges will grant them college credit for those courses.

Community College:
What’s the difference between studying basic college math at a community college and taking the same course at an Ivy League school? Several thousands of dollars. Most community colleges offer the same courses offered at universities but at a fraction of the price. In fact, many university professors moonlight as instructors at community colleges to earn extra cash.

In some jurisdictions, community colleges allow high school juniors and seniors to take college level courses with them. Students who take advantage of these programs tend to graduate high school with at least a full college semester’s worth of credits.

Life:
Many times, people aren’t able to attend college until they’ve been out of high school for many years. Luckily for them, a growing number of colleges offer programs where adults can receive college credits for their life experiences. Military veterans often receive college credit for their military experience for instance. Adult students should ask their college advisor if life experience credits are offered at their institution.

Stay home:
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