Want to save thousands of dollars on your education? Community college may be the answer.

Especially for those already struggling with higher insurance, assistive technology expenses, and skyrocketing medical fees, it’s tough to find any money left over.

Thanks to an economy that has tanked alongside rising costs for higher education,  many people with disabilities are finding they aren’t able to stretch their money far enough to afford a bachelor’s degree. But community colleges have several ways to help shave the fat off your schooling budget.

Low-cost Education Option
Price has always favored community colleges, according to Norma Kent, director of communications for the American Association of Community Colleges. “It’s a very affordable way to go.”

And how. According to the latest statistics available from the College Board, a nonprofit association of colleges that oversees admissions tests such as the SAT, the average current tuition and fees for a year at a private, four-year institution are $25,143.

Compare that to $6,585 for the same in-state costs at a public university, or $17,452 if you’re out-of-state. Even with financial aid, that puts college out of reach for many people with disabilities.

Ouch. That’s more than $25,000 for four years at an absolute minimum. But wait, the average annual tuition and fees at community college will only set you back $2,402. What’s the catch?

Transfer Credits
Community colleges usually offer two-year degrees, so you can’t finish your bachelor’s degree there. But more and more, they have an articulation agreement with state universities and even local private schools so that credits you earn will transfer seamlessly over to the bigger institutions.

At the Community College of Philadelphia, for example, credits will carry to several schools in the region. The list includes prestigious Temple University, which offers scholarships for transfer students with a minimum 3.0 grade average.

“We can really guarantee that you’ll enter as a junior” to one of the four-year schools, states Kimberly Lapalucci, director of public relations for the Philadelphia community college.

Summer School
Another way to take a bit out of college costs is by taking summer classes at a community college. Every credit hour will save hundreds of dollars, and room-and-board is nil if you stay in your old room at Mom and Dad’s.

Community college appeals to many students who aren’t quite sure which direction they want their education to take.

“You can afford to play around a bit. You can explore,” according to Betty Davis, head of financial aid at Community College of Allegheny in Pennsylvania. It’s a great place to test the water in several careers without breaking the bank.

College Credit in High School
Some high schools are taking advanced placement classes a step further. They’re offering dual credit classes, so juniors and seniors fill high school graduation requirements and earn college credit at the same time.

In Gainesville, Fla., Santa Fe Community College even lets high school students attend classes at the college free of charge. Course textbooks are loaned to the students at no cost.

It functions like a two-year scholarship, especially welcome when many people, including those with disabilities, aren’t feeling as secure about their financial situation as they were a few years ago.