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Contact UsCBUS Money Saving Tips for College
Tips for Saving Money
Investing in College
College is an investment and you should understand the costs before making the choice to attend. One way to understand this is by reviewing what’s known as Cost of Attendance (COA) which calculates tuition and fees, housing, food, transportation, health insurance and other direct or indirect costs. MSU Denver’s COA is among the lowest in the state for 4-year colleges.
Our current COA per semester is $18,275. While this represents a significant cost, according to a National Bureau of Economic Investment study, college educated workers at age 25 will make 27% more than peers without a degree. By age 55, that premium grows to 60%.
If you determine the costs of attending are worth the investment, here are some additional tips and opportunities to help reduce college costs:
- Apply for FAFSA or CASFA and register for classes early. This will help you determine how much money you will receive and if your award will cover everything. If you need assistance with your application, you can reach out to the Office of Financial Aid or the Educational Opportunity Center. Remember, you are responsible for paying the difference between your financial aid award and your tuition bill. If you can’t afford tuition or are unsure your award will cover everything, consider taking fewer classes or dropping your classes before the 100% Refund Deadline
- When selecting classes, look for classes with low or no cost for materials. See instructions for finding classes with low cost / no cost for materials.
- Apply for scholarships, grants, and other opportunities MSU Denver Scholarships
- Compare textbook prices at the Tivoli and other websites or see if your textbook is available in a local library. Common websites include Amazon, Textbooks, Cengage, etc. We do not have the resources to pay for student textbooks or software—make sure you budget appropriately
- Learn about student loans, debt management, and financial literacy by exploring resources available from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- Get an on-campus job or Work Study (if eligible). Review student employment opportunities
- Take advantage of student freebies
- Students can receive Microsoft Office 365 and can check out laptops for free. Student Tech Resources.
- The Auraria Library has an equipment library where you can check out USBs, TI-84 calculators, charging cables, microscopes, headphones and more. Learn more Technology Library Information . You can also check out TI-84 Calculators from the Math Department
- Ask for student discounts! Many companies (Verizon, Target, Hulu, AMC, etc.,) offer them
- Review Alternative Credit opportunities such as Department Exams, College Level Entrance Exams (CLEP), and Military Service, etc. Alternative Credit Options. For example, if you speak Spanish, French or German, you can save nearly $8,500 in tuition and fees and complete General Studies requirements by taking a $135 CLEP Information You can also CLEP Business Core requirements including CIS 2010, MGT 2210, ACC 2010, ECO 2010, and ECO 2020! Speak to your Academic Advisor about these opportunities
- Check your eligibility for local and federal benefits including SNAP (food assistance), Medicaid, Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), Colorado WIC, etc. check your eligibility using the Benefits screener
- Check out Rowdy’s Corner which offers free food assistance to students. The College of Business hosts a Rowdy’s Corner satellite location in AD 210. Find additional community food resources,