College is expensive, it is a simple fact. College costs keep going up and most people can’t afford it without taking out loans. If they are lucky they can pay for it all with savings, scholarships, financial aid, and grants. Loans are the most popular type of aid for college and most students will graduate with some student loans.

How much are your student loans worth? Did you graduate with a lot of debt? When you went looking for loans, the first loan you got was probably the government Stafford Loan because of the low rate. If you have financial need, you can get the Subsidized Stafford Loan which allows you to not pay interest on it while you are in college.

After government loans, you can look for student loan services, get a personal loan, take out a second mortgage, or use credit cards. I would recommend against the second mortgage or credit cards. If you are desperate enough to take out a second mortgage, you should look for a cheaper school.

You may want to look into going to a cheaper school. Cheaper schools are usually state colleges and only cost less because the government pays for part of it. Often state schools are actually better than many more expensive private schools.

How can you use less loans? The best way to minimize student loan debt is by by not taking out loans in the first place. Unless you are a super genius and feel you must go to an Ivy League school, go to one of the top state schools and save a lot of money.

If you go to a community college first and then transfer to a state school, you can save even more money. Community colleges are cheaper than state 4 year schools, and you will still get the four year degree.

If you can, go to a school nearby, live at home and commute. You can save a lot of money not having to pay for room and board. Many people find living in dorms overrated anyway. At my college, most students ended up getting their own apartments after the first year because they didn’t like the dorms. If you stay at home, your parents will continue to support you just as they were before and it won’t cost you extra for school fees.

Finally, if you want to help pay for college, get a job. Get a part time job while you are in school and a full time job over the summer to help take a big chunk out of your tuition.