CommunityCollege

Between rising tuition and a weak job market, some pundits argue that higher education isn't worth the money anymore. But college grads on average earn more than twice as much as workers with only a high school diploma. So how can you get a degree without spending the rest of your life in debt?

As the new school year begins, many parents' thoughts may be turning to a future of appallingly pricey college tuition payments. So we thought now would be a good time to tap an expert for advice on how to bring those costs down. Here's what we learned:

In today's tough economy, a college degree is even more necessary -- though it's no guarantee of a job. But with tuition costs going through the roof, what's a frugal student to do? Try getting a deep discount on your degree with the help of the local community college.

The College on a Dime series is written by Zac Bissonnette, a junior at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His book College On a Dime will be published by Penguin in the fall. Think community college is nothing more than a fifth year of high school for kids who couldn't get into four year...

Community colleges may hold the promise for a brighter future, according to President Obama, but officials in St. Louis, Mo., likely wish the dimwit who left a coffeemaker running overnight causing $200,000 in damage at a campus there would have thought twice before calling it an...

The media's depiction of the current economic crisis has largely focused on either troubled homeowners or failing investment companies. Over the past couple of months, however, another big loser has emerged: educational institutions. For example, five Wisconsin school districts recently announced...

College: it ain't what it used to be. A study published this week by the Delta Project on Postsecondary Education Costs, Productivity and Accountability says that students are paying more of the cost for college, but are more and more going to less prestigious colleges whose budgets are going more...

Community colleges have always been an underrated source of education, with most top students frowning upon them. But the times they are a-changin'. With the credit markets experiencing unprecedented problems -- and parents' portfolios down big -- many students are finding themselves in their...

The tightening in the student loan market continues: The New York Times reports that an increasing number of lenders are declining to offer loans for community colleges, presumably because the small denominations do not justify the costs of servicing. With more than 40% of undergrads attending...

As the spring semester winds down, college students are starting to figure out what they're going to do with their summers. Working, seeing friends, internships and perhaps a bit of travel are popular plans. But in light of the soaring cost of college, this might be an ideal time to look at a great...