Recently, there has been much discussion about the crisis of college student loans that is crippling the financial lives of so many young Americans. The figures are indeed staggering. The PEW Research Center recently released a report indicating that, in 2013, nearly one out of five households owed student debt. Moreover, the average student loan balance jumped from $23,349 in 2002 to $38,682 in 2019.

It is important to consider ways to make the college experience cheaper overall. Here are three proven strategies for reducing college costs and finding ways to pay for college.

1: Go to a Cheaper College

The first strategy that I recommend is to send your child to a lower-priced school, like a nearby public university. Public universities are significantly less expensive than private colleges. By some calculations, tuition and fees at public schools are 75% less than those of private colleges.

Large, public schools often offer a wide variety of classes and majors. These schools can be a great pick for students who are unsure about what they want to major in because they have so many options when they do choose. Many students like to attend big schools because of their well-known sports programs.

These schools also tend to be highly diverse since they have so many students from so many different backgrounds. Finally, large colleges often have bigger classes—but not always—so they are a good pick if you prefer lecture classes rather than small class discussion.

2: Consider Going to Community College

A second way to reduce costs is to consider sending your child to community college. These schools offer general education course requirements at very low rates.

If you do send your child to community college, however, it is critical that you have your child talk to an advisor about an articulation agreement. These are agreements between community colleges and four-year universities. They are hugely important because they tell your child exactly what classes to take to be eligible to transfer.

Attending community college and then transferring to a four-year university is an excellent strategy for making a college degree much more affordable. Students are also eligible for financial aid at community colleges.

So how much does community college cost? According to the American Association of Community Colleges, average tuition for one year at a community college is $2,713. Books and supplies will cost approximately $800. If your child lives at home, the average cost of attending community college will be right around $3,000 per year.

If your child really doesn’t want to go to community college, you should at least make them take community college classes during the summer. This is another way that you can rein in costs. For each course credit that you do at community college during the summer, you can save hundreds of dollars on tuition. If your child does take summer courses, make sure you check to see that they will transfer credit to your four-year school. If you plan your courses right, you can easily complete the courses necessary to graduate at least one quarter or semester early from your regular school.

3: Have Your Child Live at Home

Another way to reduce costs is to go to a local university and live at home. Housing costs comprise a large chunk of your college budget. Many schools charge upwards of $13,000 per year for housing in the dorm.

If you are considering schools that are located within driving distance, you can save a lot of money by living at home. While this is probably not the preferred solution for most 18-year-olds, it is one way to substantially reduce college costs. If your child does live at home, make sure that they get engaged with the campus community by studying on campus and getting involved in student activities.

Your child can afford to go to college, but you need to be smart about financial aid. Think creatively about how to reduce the amount of money you have to pay right now—by attending a community college, living at home, or attending a public university—and try to keep your student loans to a reasonable limit. You can afford to go to college and you should go. A college degree is definitely if you approach it in a smart way.