How to Beat the High Cost of Attending College

According to an article on LinkedIn, the cost of going to college has increased by more than 25% over the past 10 years.

In this article, author Abigail Hess begins by comparing the cost of attending college in the late 70’s to today. Her findings revealed that between 1978 and 2008 the cost of attending an equivalent private college increased more than 119 percent and the cost of attending an equivalent public college increased more than 99.5 percent.

Hess’s piece noted how the following factors are making college less affordable:

1. States are cutting funding to higher education and spending an average of 13% less per student
2. Tuition costs at both private and public institutions will continue to increase
3. The ever rising cost of living has made it more challenging for students to pursue a college education

Is it possible to get an education without going into serious debt?

Students who are interested in going to college without accumulating huge amounts of student loan debt have several options.

Ohio’s College Credit Plus program is a dual enrollment program designed to provide students in grades 7-12 that attend public or private school or who have been homeschooled with the opportunity to earn both high school and college credits from post-secondary institutions in Ohio. The goal of CCP is to encourage more students to consider attending college and provide already college-bound students with a quicker route towards reaching their academic goals. 

Some of the benefits of CCP include the following:

• Students can get a head start on earning a college degree or certificate
• Students can experience what being a college student is really like
• Students can save money on tuition and textbook fees

Students interested in saving even more cash can then take their CCP credits and transfer to a two-year school. Financial advantages of attending a local two-year school include:

• Lower tuition rates
• Lower transportation costs
• Students can still live at home
• Students can work part-time 
• Students can obtain the skills they need to enter the job market much sooner.
• Most two-year schools have partnerships with four-year colleges that allow students to pursue their bachelor’s degree at a discounted rate.

About Hocking College

Founded in 1968, Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio offers over 50 concentrated associate degree programs. In addition to providing students with remedial skills, Hocking College also offers them the hands-on job experience they’ll need to excel in their chosen field, and has a partnership with Franklin University that offers them a less expensive route to pursuing their bachelor’s degree. 

Also, Hocking College’s Career & University Services center offers students the chance to participate in professional workshops, career fairs and etiquette dinners. They also offer them advice on writing resumes, job search techniques, interview strategies and proper interview attire. 

How do I enroll at Hocking College?

Students interested in enrolling at Hocking College should review our Admissions Process here and call the Admissions Office at (740) 753-7050.