Katie McHugh of The Daily Caller has written a new piece which offers students some common sense tips on saving college tuition dollars.

TheDC’s guide to shearing THOUSANDS off your college tuition bill

Most 18-year-olds skipping merrily off to college have no idea of of the financial turmoil that awaits them after graduation — if they’re part of the one-third of enrollees lucky or dogged enough to get their degree.

Federal student loan debt rose to over $1 trillion in 2012, and the government compassionate enough to lend young kids all of that money dispatches debt collectors from 32 different agencies to keep them paying off the interest on time each month. Can’t afford the monthly payment? That’s a shame. If you stop paying on your loans, the interest is capitalized, dragging you deeper in the hole.

If you plan to attend college full time, take steps to secure your financial future. Don’t wake up with a hangover and a pile of bills on graduation day — use this list to reduce the amount you borrow for a degree you almost certainly can’t afford.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Tens of thousands of dollars go unclaimed each year — grab some of the free money floating past you and pay off a semester a grant at a time. Let your mentors know which scholarships you will apply for and when ahead of time so they have plenty of time to send in recommendation letters. Begin searching for opportunities in January, when most new applications go online; make an agenda with deadlines and send in your materials as soon as possible.

Call local businesses and ask if they sponsor promising students headed to college. Check the sites of major corporations, too. Coca Cola gave out $3 million to 250 high school seniors every year since 1989, which adds up to a decent $12,000 per kid. Your parents’ employers may also offer scholarship opportunities. If you’re an athlete, search for the college recruiting service that best fits your plan. Conduct your searches on a yearly cycle, and rake in the cash while you still can. Write a poem, win 15 grand — easy money.

Read the rest at the link below.