Tips for Boosting Your College Savings

April 01, 2026

If you plan to attend college, be sure to create a budget (or a spending plan) and start saving for college expenses early. There are various ways you can earn money, save for college, and reduce your dependency on student loans:

• Get a summer job when you are in high school. You can start saving money from your summer jobs long before you enter college.
• Birthdays, holidays, and high school graduation are great ways to earn additional money. You can ask your family and friends to donate to your college savings fund in lieu of gifts during holidays and birthday celebrations.
• Put your money into a college savings account. These plans were created to help you save for future higher education expenses. For more information, go to www.oregoncollegesavings.com.
• Get good grades, participate in extracurricular activities, and develop and maintain relationships with individuals who can provide a recommendation letter, such as teachers, employers, and community members. This could help you receive a scholarship as recommendation letters are often required as part of many scholarship applications.
• Choose an affordable college based on the financial aid award letter and consider taking community college courses during high school or summer breaks. These community college credits you earn can be transferred and count toward your degree requirements.
• Once on campus, get a part-time job. This can cover part of your college expenses. Work-study may also be an option.
• Save on tuition, housing, and books. Many colleges don’t charge if you take additional credits beyond what is considered a full course load, but make sure your schedule is manageable. Get books from the library or buy them used, either online or from a student that has them from the previous year.

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This article is from the Oregon Careers magazine. Oregon Careers publications are aimed at the career planning needs of students. They contain information about how to select and prepare for a career. 

Oregon Careers 2026 is currently available in English and Spanish. Order print magazines for your classroom today.

An activity guide for using Oregon Careers 2026 in the classroom is also in the Careers box at www.QualityInfo.org/pubs.

Topics covered in Oregon Careers 2026 include career planning and preparation, education beyond high school, and job search and resume creation. It also includes a career guide and additional resources.