Going to college debt free, or as close as possible

Let me start with this: not every kid needs to go to college. There are so many paths after high school and all of them are valid. But if your student does want to go, I believe they should do it with as little debt as possible. Here's how.

Start at a state or community college first.

The cost per credit hour is often half of what a 4-year university charges and your student likely stays home, which saves even more. Some schools offer scholarships that can cover those two years completely. This is especially great if your student isn't sure what they want to study yet. Why spend full price to figure it out?

Get college credit while still in high school.

Dual enrollment, AP, IB, AICE. If your school offers any of these, take full advantage. In some districts students can even earn their entire AA degree before graduation. One word of caution: always verify which credits the colleges your student is interested in will actually accept. Not all of them transfer the way you'd expect.

Know what scholarships are available right now.

Don't wait until senior year. Go to the admissions page of any college your student is interested in and search "freshman scholarships." Understand the GPA and test score requirements early, freshman and sophomore year early, so there's time to actually meet them. It takes effort but it can be worth every penny.

Have the money conversation early.

Parents and students need to talk openly about how college is going to be paid for and what the expectations are around scholarships. Look up what careers in your student's area of interest actually pay in year one. A good rule of thumb: student loan payments shouldn't exceed 10-15% of their expected starting salary. Run those numbers before you commit to anything.

Make a 4-year plan, twice.

Once in high school to make sure your student is set up for college. Then again before college starts to map out all four years of their degree. More students take longer than four years than you'd think and that extra time is expensive. Prerequisites, wrong course sequences, and poor planning are usually the culprit. A little preparation goes a long way.

And if college isn't the right path, that's okay too.

Trades, certifications, entrepreneurship. The world has changed. There are more ways than ever to build a great life without a four-year degree and there is nothing wrong with that conversation at your kitchen table.

Bonus for Florida families

If your student is graduating with a Florida high school diploma, here are four ways to attend one of the 12 public colleges or universities in the state completely tuition free.

Bright Futures Scholarship

Two levels: 100% tuition (Florida Academic Scholars) or 75% (Florida Medallion Scholars). Check the current requirements at the Bright Futures site to make sure your student is on track.

IB Diploma

Students who earn the IB Diploma automatically meet the academic criteria for the 100% tuition award. No GPA or test score requirement for Bright Futures. Just the 100 hours of community service, paid work, or a combination of both.

AICE Diploma

Pass 7 or more Cambridge AICE exams including Global Perspectives and Research within 25 months and your student automatically qualifies for 100% tuition. Same community service hours apply.

AP Capstone Diploma

This one is brand new starting with the Class of 2026. Score a 3 or higher on AP Seminar, AP Research, and four additional AP exams and your student automatically meets the criteria for 100% tuition. A 3.5 GPA is still required along with the 100 service hours. Classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028 can choose any subjects for the four additional exams. Starting with Class of 2029, specific subjects may be required.

This week's action step

Pick one idea from this edition and talk about it as a family this week. Is there an option here your student's school offers that you hadn't thought about yet? Now is the time to have that conversation.

All of this is possible and it starts with a plan. That's exactly why I built the tools I have, so you don't have to figure this out alone.

How else can I help you get through this?

- Tiffany

Big Mom Energy