Everyone makes cutbacks in today's economy. Even colleges and universities have to cut back or increase tuition. It's depressing news for a student, but don't forget that you can make cutbacks in your own education costs.

Here are some effective ways to drastically reduce college expenses (with more available at our website—see below). Although some points are specific to the United States, those who live in other nations can probably take comparable steps to save on time and money.

Test out

For those still in high school who do well academically, try to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses if available at your school, leading to AP exams. Good scores on these tests are commonly accepted for coursework credit at colleges and universities.

If you're out of high school and study well on your own, you can't go wrong by taking College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests or similar tests outside the United States. A widely accepted alternative for gaining college credit, CLEP offers 33 different tests for a small fraction of the tuition of a typical three-hour course. Study guides are widely available, and regardless of whether you pass or fail, there is no effect on your grade point average (GPA). Before applying to take the exams, check the websites of the colleges you're considering to see their policy regarding these exams.

Seek financial help

Do your best to obtain financial aid by applying to many schools very early, and then determine which ones offer the best aid package.

Usually students from low-income families qualify for the Federal Pell Grant (in America), but make sure to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) very early. Those who wait risk funding running out.

Also, apply for every private scholarship you may qualify for. Write persuasive essays and ask others to proofread them—perhaps your teachers if you're still in high school. It's difficult to obtain a scholarship, but if you can write a high-quality persuasive letter, you'll increase your odds.

Attend a two-year college first

Two-year colleges can be real bargains. Additionally, they give you an introduction to college life on the way to a four-year university. Two-year colleges also have career counseling services to help you choose the right major and career plan.

Often they sponsor college fairs with recruiters from many schools, providing an excellent opportunity to compare degree programs. Remember, employers won't care that you took your core classes at a community college. Just make sure your community college credits transfer to the four-year school you're planning to attend.

Many students can also live at home while attending a two-year college, further reducing their expenses by not having to pay expensive room and board.

Choose your field and courses carefully

Meet with your advisor and ask plenty of questions if you don't understand something. Advisors may care deeply for you, but they simply can't know everything about your degree plan.

Consider a math- or science-related field. These majors are rare, and some schools try to attract such students with benefits like competitive financial aid and sometimes even free tuition. Often employers prefer the more rigorous Bachelor of Science degree over the more flexible Bachelor of Arts. (Of course, the field you would prefer to work in over the course your life must weigh heavily here.)

Before classes begin, learn as much about your professors as possible. How rigorous is the class? Is he or she detached or down-to-earth? What is the grading policy, and how are religious absences handled? Check RateMyProfessors.com to help find quality professors—just take comments, particularly negative ones, with a dose of skepticism.

Read the second part of this article

There is much more that you can do to lower the cost of your higher education. Read the second part of this article - "Cutting More College Costs."