5 ways to beat big tuition

It's easy to idealize the path to college -- parents who save diligently, a student who applies herself and a cheery wave as a cautious but expectant teen takes her first steps past perfectly trimmed hedgerows and into the ivy-covered halls of higher ed.

At first glance, Tina McVeigh might seem to fit the stereotype. A senior at Smith College, McVeigh will graduate shortly with a degree in religion and biblical literature. A master's degree in social work is next.

But McVeigh is anything but typical. At 45, she's more than twice the age of most of her classmates. One of eight children, the Philadelphia native obtained an associate's degree years ago, only to spiral into a string of hollow jobs and chronic frustration. Video: The last to graduate

Once she got a grip on her situation, she began to dream of completing a full college degree. And Smith's Ada Comstock Scholars Program -- which targets women from atypical backgrounds -- provided her with complete tuition and expenses for the four years she needed to complete her degree. It was quite a savings: The going rate for just one year at Smith is $32,258, with an additional $10,000 for room and board. Snapshot: How much does college actually cost?

"When I heard I was accepted, I broke down and cried, because it was a validation that I was worth their investment," she says. "To this day, I feel like I'm living a dream."

McVeigh's experience illustrates an important truth in these days of exploding college costs and ballooning student loan obligations. Simply put, there are ways to obtain a college degree without taking out loans, working part time and still ending up in hock for a good chunk of your life. Graph: How student debt has soared

These five unconventional approaches may be a bit unsettling to some, but they offer viable alternatives to students who otherwise would have none. Video: Best advice I can give

1. Alternate programs

The program that welcomed McVeigh is one of many. Another is the James Baldwin Scholars Program at Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. The program provides a transition year for students who are "underprepared" for college due to a lack of resources in their home communities and schools. Students receive a scholarship covering tuition, room, board and other expenses during that transitional year, and are eligible for financial aid as fully matriculated Hampshire students.

2. Credit-transfer arrangements

Many students opt for a year or two of community college, then look to transfer the credits to a four-year institution. Trouble is, not every school accepts every community college's credits. Hedge your bets by searching out four-year schools with prearranged credit-transfer programs.

For example, students at Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y., can eventually attend prestigious Cornell University through the Pathways to Success program (thus slashing the cost of an Ivy League degree). Other schools have similar arrangements. Under California's public higher-education system, for instance, eligible graduates of the California Community Colleges system can transfer to the Cal State or University of California systems in order to complete bachelor's degrees.

One tip: If you're taking courses at a community college, emphasize the basics, such as English 101. Credits for broad survey classes are often easier to transfer than courses with a narrower focus.

3. Tuition-free schools

What could be better than tuition-free college degrees?

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Mass., offers them, thanks to a hefty endowment that underwrites every single student's tuition bill. Cooper Union in New York and Berea College in Kentucky also offer tuition-free programs.

4. Heading for the border

Relatively few students consider going outside the U.S. to pursue a degree. But there are bargains to be had. One example: Government subsidies cut tuition at Ivy League-caliber McGill University in Montreal to as little as $24,000 (in U.S. dollars) for international students. To compare, the going rate for a year at Harvard is anywhere from $46,000 to $48,000, according to the school's Web site.

5. Distance learning

There are bargains to be had on the Internet, as well. You many not get a break on tuition, but you can avoid commuting or residence costs, hang on to a day job or otherwise cut the overall financial impact. For instance, Nova Scotia Community College offers an extensive online curriculum and will even allow you to complete an entire degree online. Other colleges -- Princeton, Case Western Reserve University and Temple, among them -- employ Apreso Classroom technology, where classes are videotaped for later access on computers,

iPods or other MP3 players. The system allows for distance learning as well as a study and review tool for students.

Produced by Elizabeth Daza/Graphics by Hakan Isik and Joe Farro