Check out ways to reduce college or career school costs.

Lower-cost schools

If you'll be working toward a bachelor's degree, you might consider starting at a two-year community college and then transferring to a four-year school. Community colleges are usually less expensive than four-year schools. (Some four-year schools that are partially funded by local and state taxes can be less expensive as well.) Make sure your community college courses will transfer to your four-year school and that those courses will count toward your bachelor's degree.

Since a community college allows you to live at home, you can save money on room and board.

Working or volunteering opportunities

You can work part time to pay part of your costs. Be sure your work and school schedules don't conflict and that you save enough time for studying.

AmeriCorps is a program that offers education awards in return for national service. For more information, contact the Corporation for National Service:

     Corporation for National Service
     1201 New York Avenue, NW
     Washington, DC 20525

     1-800-942-2677
     TTY number: 1-800-833-3722
     www.americorps.org

Tax breaks

Hope tax credit or Lifetime Learning tax credit: You or your parents might qualify for one or both of these. IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education, explains these credits and other tax benefits for postsecondary students.

Certain borrowers can take a tax deduction for the interest they pay on student loans. This benefit applies to all loans used to pay for postsecondary education costs. The maximum deduction is $2,500 a year.

For more information, visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov, or call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. TTY callers can call 1-800-829-4059.