The Human Face of Student Debt

[cookderosa]

One way to cut costs is to not live on campus. Live with your parents or get an apartment with a roommate.

I would encourage that for community colleges (the first 2 years) because frequently a 4-year college requires campus housing, so in addition to the cost savings of using the CC first, you go around the housing requirements.
You still have to do the math, just because a university is close enough to live at home, doesn't make it the most cost-effective choice. I live within spitting distance of some VERY expensive universities. Our state flagship school is about 2 1/2 hours away- that's too far for my kids to commute.