Food, Home and Style

How Colleges Can Save You Money

Remember college? The late night study sessions, the lack of responsibility, the keg parties, and—best of all—all the stuff you used to get for free. (Or at least, it seemed free.) Who knew prescription medications and gym memberships would be so expensive in the real world?

You don’t need to re-enroll to take advantage of the many discounts given to college kids. Many universities offer reduced (or free!) services to alumni and non-students, too, assuming you’re willing to work out in a gym surrounded by 20-year-olds. Some of what you can get from campus:

Cheap Gyms
Forget expensive the memberships at chichi gyms. Most universities offer deeply discounted memberships at their student-run facilities to alumni and non-alumni alike. But be forewarned: Specific gym rules and eligibility conditions vary by university; some may require that you live within a certain distance from the school or work out during off-peak times only. It may or may not be worth it in the end.

Discounted Drugs
No, not that kind you used in school. University pharmacies are known to offer 20 to 25 percent discounts on prescription drugs. And while this is a service that usually only extends to students and staff, an increasing number of pharmacies are letting alumni and their partners in on the action, too.

Dental and Medical Exams
As we mentioned last week, dental schools are a prime place to get top-notch dental care at a fraction of the price. The same goes with those in need of routine health exams. Many medical schools offer clinics to those in need, run by students still in training. And since the med school itself picks up the majority of the tab—you are helping to “teach” the students, after all—your estimated contribution to the visit is generally little to none.

Budget Buffets
Yes, the campus dining hall may have been to blame for those 1o pounds you gained freshman year, but you’ve got to admit the macaroni and cheese was pretty good. Even better, university dining halls and other campus eateries, which are generally considered a bargain compared to off-campus fare, almost never require that you be enrolled as a student to chow down.

Used Books
Remember all the used books for sale at your college bookstore? You didn’t have to be a student to buy them. And while the majority of books on sale at a campus shop probably won’t be too exciting—unless Intro to Anatomy textbooks are your thing—there’s always a fresh new crop of English majors throwing out barely-touched copies of the classics at the end of each semester. And while campus bookstores may not always be the cheapest option, you may as well stop by if you’re already on campus for a workout and a dental exam.

Classes (Duh)
We covered this several weeks ago in My Free Edumacation, but it bears repeating—many, if not most, colleges let alums audit classes for free, and some offer tuition discounts. And even if you’re not a former student, plenty of top institutions provide free online courses and course materials.

Tags: budgets, education, health, spending, Spending and Saving