Buy and sell used textbooks. Nowadays, a single textbook can easily cost $100 to $150 or more for some courses. Multiply that by the average number of five courses per semester (for full-timers), plus the fact that some courses require more than one book, and you could easily be looking at a $600 to $1,000 bill. Most schools, however, have a buy-back policy at the end of the semester. If the course is being offered again and the same text is being used, the campus bookstore will refund a portion of the purchase price in exchange for the book (in good condition, of course). Students who signed up for the course in the future can purchase the used texts and save money, as well.

Join the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). High school students or graduates who are college-bound can apply for this program. They can receive financial assistance that covers a full four-year tuition, textbooks, and fees. An ROTC scholarship is not required for participation in the Corps, however.