One way to keep college loan amounts to a minimum is through the use of effective money management while in school. Through the process of constructing a budget based on known expenses versus resources available to pay those expenses, you can better track the amount of money you will need for each year of college.

Metro has determined the cost of attendance (COA), which is a fairly accurate measurement of the expenses you may incur during a year in college. Items such as tuition, fees, and room and board are all fixed expenses that are built into the cost of attendance. However, other factors such as transportation and personal expenses, while also included in the COA, are ones you can regulate through the use of a budget.

It is important to borrow only what you need. You can always choose to borrow less than the amount of eligibility. By doing so, less has to be repaid in the future. Think of student loans as a last resort to funding your education. Seek out employment or scholarships to help finance the cost of education.