Education in modern America is expensive. The costs of more traditional means of education of every type has increased as much as 135% between 1963 and 2021 with an average annual inflation average increasing by 12% between 2010 to 2022. Many people have presumed that, in order to cut tuition costs, choosing to look at in-state college choices would help lower fees. While on some level this logic holds, research over the last 20 years has shown that the average costs of both private and public national universities have increased.

According to a report put together by the U.S. News, without adjusting for inflation rates (which significantly increase numbers) tuition fees at private universities has jumped by around the previous states number of 132%, and out-of-state tuition costs close behind at around 127%. With complicated national and international economics toying with the financial structure of the nation causing inflation to become just another begrudgingly accepted fact of American culture, schools tuition fees are not the sole expression of greater costs of living.

The following is a collection of some certifications and degree paths for students that are looking to gain higher education while still respecting a budget.

Alternative Educational Routes

With nearly 4,000 degree-granting institutions across the country, there are more than enough options for prospective students to find a fit that is right for them, not just from the angle of what degree path they may want, but other important factors like, location, school size, student-to-teacher ratios, and of course, tuition fees.

Of nearly 4,000 schools, 1,625 were public two or four year colleges, 1,660 are considered non-profit. It is the two-year institutions, often referred to as community colleges, that have a long streak of both success of programming and lessen tuition rates, and a great place to consider alternative, cost-conscious degree paths.

Community College and Associate Degrees

Simply put, community colleges, two-year associate degrees are a solid option for the budget conscious student. Only so many colleges offer affordable costs, there are plenty of quality programmes to be found. Additionally, the smaller student body sizes lead to a number of other benefits that might be lost at other, larger colleges. More face time with teachers, greater accessibility to the right classes when theory is needed, more resources like admissions officers, career counselors, and even on campus jobs make community college a wonderful alternative to the more expensive four-year route.

On top of all this is the more obvious point: two-years of schooling typically costs less than a four-year degree. When combining that lesser time commitment with less commute times, less books to buy, less fees, and the much lower average tuition rates, people can save a lot of money while still getting a solid education.

Online Programmes

Online degrees quickly became a very popular option to traditional, in-classroom schooling, distance learning forms of education have been around (arguably) since the early 1980’s. The first web-based accredited university as we are familiar with it today— Jones International University in Centennial, Colorado which opened in 1993— ushered in an era of online learning platforms. By the time this type of education path caught on in the early 2000’s, the demand for more flexible, affordable education had begun to become more popular.

Between 2000 and 2015, the percentage of students taking online distance classes rose significantly, and it’s no wonder. The availability of both saved time and money from not having to commute, pay for on campus resource fees, or just the general greater affordability in comparison to on-campus paths, made these programmes an easy sell. With the improvements in technology, online education has become much more accessible and feasible.

An important factor to verify before enrolling in an online programme however is always to check its accreditation, like in the case of nursing schools.

Certifications

Certifications are a broad designator for educational paths. Certifications can be earned at any type of school— public, private, not-for-profit, or-for profit. Being that there are so many options available at many of the nearly 4,000 institutions across the country, it is easy to explore degree options and pricing. The upsides of certifications from a financial standpoint are similar to the previously mentioned options such as less time commitment, but also adds the benefits of being used as a quicker entry point into any number of career paths.

Carpentry, welding, pharmacy technicians, and certified medical assistants that are a stepping stone to eventually becoming an RN with more formal education. No matter which of the many certifications chosen, these are a great way to explore educational paths on a budget.