Graduating in 5 years can increase your costs by 26%—and graduating in 6 years by 53%.

Loans will be automatically awarded to you based on your FAFSA information. Cancel or reduce the ones you don’t need.

Working part-time during the school year and full-time in the summer can reduce potential debt by up to $32,000 over four years. Find jobs.

Borrowers working in many jobs are eligible for partial or full loan forgiveness.

Compare anticipated wages in your career to your educational debt to determine how much you can afford.

WWU’s tuition rate is the same for 12-16 hours, so taking a full load can add a whopping quarter-and-a-half of free tuition over four years. Apply now.

Besides those that WWU offers, you can find others online at sources like Fastweb.com. Check with local service organizations and your major department, too.

If you show eligibility, WWU can match your church’s qualified donation by up to $2,000. Any church is eligible. Download match request.

Stay on top of your total debt by reading the reports you get from WWU on how much you’ve borrowed.

Changing majors can mean some of your classes won’t apply to your degree and thus could drive up your costs. Use WWU’s career services to help you make your decision early.

If you’re not sure about your major, pick classes that meet general requirements—so you won’t be wasting credits. Apply now.

This varies, so talk with WWU’s Academic Advisement team to see which ones take longer to finish—and subsequently cost more.

This can mean you’ll get up to $48,000 in WWU scholarships over four years. It will also keep you from losing your scholarships once you’re in college. Check out our Freshman Scholarship Calculator.

Take college prerequisites during high school (3 years of math, 4 years of history, 2 years of English, and 2 years of science). Advanced math like precalculus is also recommended.

Transfer students aren’t eligible for WWU’s generous scholarship program, so you could lose over $50,000 in scholarships if you start elsewhere. Compare costs.

Make sure your study abroad doesn’t add another year to your program.

It’s good to get involved but joining clubs you won’t be involved in can be a waste of money.

You don’t have to have a car or laptop to come to college. Credit card and car debt are frequent reasons that keep students from getting a college education.

Some classes have fees ranging from $15 to $150. Check the bulletin to find out which ones do.

Renting, buying used books, or purchasing digital books can sometimes save money. The WWU bookstore offers several options for budget-conscious students.

They’re competitively priced and within walking distance. Studies show that students living on-campus have higher chances of completing college.

Sharing rent, utilities and other living expenses can save you money.

Pick the one that fits you best—and then be sure you use it so you don’t waste money. Compare meal plans.

Take advantage of ASWWU’s free entertainment, carpool, and watch your eating out and coffee expenses. Little things can add up.

Make a budget and track where your money is going.