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How to Pay for Extra College Expenses
Some college expenses are unavoidable, but can be managed with careful budgeting.
Devon is a former personal finance writer for NerdWallet whose work has been featured in the L.A. Times, USA Today, Business Insider, CNBC and MarketWatch. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University.
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There are two kinds of college expenses you'll need to pay: the ones you expect and the ones you don't. You probably have a good handle on upfront costs like tuition, fees, room and board as well as textbooks. But extra college expenses are not as predictable.
We've compiled a list of 10 extra college expenses you might not have considered so you can plan how to pay for them. Some are unavoidable, but with careful budgeting, they’re all manageable.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula for student loan products takes into account more than 50 data points across multiple categories, including repayment options, customer service, lender transparency, loan eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Fixed APR
3.99-17.99%
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC.. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. Rates shown include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 7/10/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.
Variable APR
5.59-17.99%
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC.. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. Rates shown include autopay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Deferred Repayment Option with a 10-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 8.35% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 120 monthly payments of $179.18 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $21,501.54. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 7/10/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on the creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of full principal and interest payments with the shortest available loan term.
Credible lets you check with multiple student loan lenders to get rates with no impact to your credit score. Visit their website to take the next steps.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula for student loan products takes into account more than 50 data points across multiple categories, including repayment options, customer service, lender transparency, loan eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Fixed APR
4.15-15.49%
Lowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 7/12/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.
Variable APR
5.37-15.70%
Lowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 7/12/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.
Credible lets you check with multiple student loan lenders to get rates with no impact to your credit score. Visit their website to take the next steps.
1. Internship and work-study attire
If you're looking for a work-study job, interviews can start as early as your first semester. Then there are career fairs and networking events for internships and post-college gigs. If you want to look your best for those events, you'll want professional clothing — but that can take a big bite out of your budget.
How to deal:
Shop your own closet first — but skip the jeans.
Set a budget for the items you need to complete one interview outfit.
Check clearance sections and consignment shops or trade in old clothes.
Going to school in another climate? Your flight won’t be the only added expense. For example, if you’re a Texan who's attending college in New York, you might need a winter coat, boots and gloves.
How to deal:
When you’re considering schools, look up the area’s average temperatures while classes are in session. This will give you time to shop before you're hit with other college expenses — and possibly take advantage of end-of-season sales.
If you’re lucky enough to get cash as a graduation gift, consider using it to pay for weather-related necessities. Check consignment shops for cheaper alternatives.
You might already own a laptop, but what if it crashes? Even if you bought a new one that should last all four years, anything can happen — spilling a drink on your keyboard, for example. Or what if your major requires extra equipment, such as a camera or editing software?
How to deal:
Buy virus protection software and scan your hard drive frequently.
Find out if your school has an IT department that offers free or cheap help with technical issues. You might get a student discount for buying your software through the school, too.
Try to rent or borrow any extra gear you need for your major.
Invest in protective covers, such as a laptop case or keyboard skin, and look into getting your devices insured.
4. Study abroad
If you study abroad, you'll have the added expenses of international flights and applying for visas and a passport. Your financial aid package will probably look different for that semester, too: Work-study doesn’t exist overseas and visa requirements can prohibit you from working. You might also be unqualified for certain scholarships that are contingent on you being on campus.
Even if you have a decent amount of cash saved up, currency conversion fees can quickly deplete your bank balance.
How to deal:
If you can, study in a country where the dollar is strong.
Find out if your bank has a partnership with a foreign bank and will allow you to withdraw money straight from your account. This will lessen — and might even eliminate — exchange fees.
Use common sense travel tips to keep track of the cash you do have. For example, keep your wallet in your front pocket and don't store all your cash in one place.
5. Clubs, sports and Greek life
Frats and sororities have annual dues that can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, in addition to the costs of social events, initiation and pledging. Being a member of a club or sports team could also mean shelling out hundreds in transportation costs every year.
How to deal:
Ask how much members typically spend per semester before you sign up.
Be mindful of your budget: If one club or organization is too expensive, join a different one or create your own.
6. Printer ink and paper costs
Let’s say you need to print an average of 50 pages per week, and a cartridge produces about 200 pages. If one cartridge costs around $20 — that's a conservative estimate — you’ll end up spending about $140 on ink per year, taking into account school vacations.
Happily, many schools let students print a certain number of pages for free each semester. That quota might give you more than enough pages, or it might cover only a few weeks' worth of print jobs.
How to deal:
Use up your free prints before resorting to your personal printer.
Print only when you absolutely have to, and choose the double-sided option when you can.
7. Summer storage
If your journey from home to college involves a flight, it’s usually cheaper — and easier — to store your stuff somewhere near campus than it is to lug it back and forth. But storage can be expensive.
How to deal:
Your school might partner with a storage company that will pick up and drop off your boxes — but it might not be the cheapest option. Look into other local storage companies to make sure you're getting the best deal.
Find out if your school offers free storage to students returning in the fall.
Condense your stuff as much as possible and rent the smallest, least expensive storage space you can.
8. Social activities
It’s easy to rationalize spending money on going out as you make new friends. After all, you're in college for only a few years. But spending mindlessly on social outings will quickly wipe out your bank account.
How to deal:
Create a budget for entertainment and extracurricular activities, and stick to it. Write it down, and check in every week to ensure you’re not overspending.
Many schools don't allow freshmen to have cars on campus, but you might be tempted to bring yours once you’ve settled into college life. This means you may be responsible for new expenses, such as parking, gas, insurance, maintenance, and — potentially — tickets. According to a 2018 study by AAA, if you drive your car 15,000 miles per year, the cost of ownership is an average $8,849 per year.
How to deal:
Skip bringing your car if feasible.
Take advantage of any parking deals your school offers.
Pay attention to parking restrictions, and drive safely to avoid tickets.
10. Taking longer than four years to graduate
Only about 40% of students who started four-year college in 2010 graduated within four years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. You might find yourself in this position if you repeat classes, change your major or transfer schools. Add in the prices of summer semesters and excess credit hour surcharges, and you’ve got an even more expensive college education.
How to deal:
If you’re at all on the fence about your major or school, make sure your credits will transfer to other majors or colleges.
Ask your advisor about changing majors before you're sure you want to so he or she can keep you on track.
If your grades start to slip, use your school’s tutoring programs and your professors' office hours to make sure you pass. Bonus: This kind of proactive behavior will help you succeed after college, too.
Getting a college education is a major financial commitment, but it is possible to offset some costs by taking advantage of programs your school offers and budgeting for other expenses. When you're smart with your money, you'll be able to enjoy your college experience and maintain control of your finances.