Originally Posted by VamPyroX

There are other ways to make the cost lower.

You can look for ways to get scholarship or work for something in exchange.

At RIT, the financial aid office has a wall full of information for getting scholarship. They range from achieving certain tasks to writing certain papers.

At NTID, the NTID Student Congress offers free rooms to the president and vice president.

At NTID, the Student Life Team offers free rooms to their 12 students who are CSAs (Community Student Advocates)... plus some money every month.

At RIT, Residence Life offers free room and board to their resident advisors. (First year resident advisors actually get 80% free and have to pay for the other 20%. Second year and beyond, they get it all free.) Instead of full debit for meal plans, resident advisors actually get 80% debit and 20% flex (aka Tiger Bucks). Debit can be used at any food establishment and flex can be used anywhere. That's a good opportunity for buying books.