10 Ways Incoming Freshmen Can Save for College

Develop Good Financial Habits

Summer is a great time to gear up financially for school to develop a college budget and find money through work, scholarships, online services and e-commerce sites.

Experts say it's not just a 529 tax-advantaged education savings account that helps savvy high school students save for college; opening a checking account helps students put money away and establish healthy financial habits.

Work a Part-Time Job

A part-time job working as a lifeguard or at a local restaurant or fast-food chain is one way for students to pay for college and gain work experience.

Some of these part-time jobs -- especially those at fast-food giants -- offer tuition benefits to some hourly workers.

Find a Paid Summer Internship

Not only can a paid summer internship fund college-related expenses, but it can help with job prospects down the road.

More than half of the internships offered at private companies or the federal government are paid, according to a National Association of Colleges and Employers student survey. NACE finds that students with paid internships also improve their prospects for a full-time job offer after graduation.

Take Advantage of Summer Youth Programs

Some U.S. cities have public or private programs that support teen employment during the summer, such as New York City's Summer Youth Employment Program.

The program is one of the oldest in the country, employing more than 54,000 youths between the ages of 14 and 24 during the summer months. Program participants make at least minimum wage.

Win Cash Via Summer Reading Programs

Keep active during the summer and enroll in a summer reading program -- some of these programs offer participants a chance to win up to usually around $1,500 in cash for their tax-advantaged college savings account.

Some states have announced these reading programs with possible college cash, such as Oregon, Minnesota and Oklahoma, to name a few.

Take Summer College Courses

Enrolling in summer classes can be a smart way to decrease college costs -- especially if you opt for courses at a less expensive community college. This strategy can shave off time needed to graduate, reducing costs by spending less time in school.

But before taking a summer course, it's important to talk with your college's transfer credit evaluator about whether these credits will transfer.

Apply for Scholarships With Summer Deadlines

Though most scholarship deadlines have passed, students can search online to find scholarships with summer entry dates.

You, Me, And Poetry Scholarship Slam allows students to show their poetic style for a chance to win $1,000 with an original poem, and the entry date is mid-July. Another literary scholarship with a July deadline is the From Failure to Promise Scholarship Essay Contest. By entering a 1,500-word essay, a student can win $500 or $10,000.

Start Your Own Business

The possibilities are endless for creating your own business to earn cash during the summer months from dog walking, gardening and baby-sitting to designing websites.

There are also plenty of online services to make it easier for students to get started such as Rover or DogVacay, two websites for connecting pet owners with dog-sitters, or TaskRabbit, which outsources household errands such as paying someone to pick up groceries.

Make Money Online

Earning money online is one way to supplement your income to pay for school expenses. There are several websites to make money for your talents, ranging from filling out online surveys or using your media expertise, experts say.

Websites such as MySurvey and Swagbacks will pay for your participation in consumer research. Students can be paid for media talent, from tweeting for money with IZEA to contributing stock photos through Foap.

Create Cash From Your Clutter

Clean out your closets and bedroom and sell anything you're not using anymore. Clothes in the back of the closet can be sold as vintage on eBay, Etsy or at a local consignment store, for example, financial experts say.

Consider hosting a yard sale to make extra cash that you can contribute to a college fund.

Ask for Gifts

Tell family friends to consider contributing to a college savings account as a birthday or high school graduation gift.

An increasing number of students prefer college savings over material presents. Around 40 percent of high school students, for instance, say they are willing to forgo material items to save for college, according to a 2015 College Savings Foundation report.

Find More Ways to Make Your Summer Money Grow

Consider putting your summer money into a 529 account. Your investment will grow tax-free, and the account can be used to pay higher education expenses, tackling college costs.

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Farran Powell is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering paying for college and graduate school. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at fpowell@usnews.com.