Here’s one of the most important questions you can ask: When to start visiting colleges?
You may have no earthly idea when you should start. Should you get a jump start freshman year in high school? Is that crazy? Too early? Or should you wait till junior year? Is that too late?
I think junior year is the best time to visit campuses, but I also like to see visits throughout high school, not just trying to cram it all in junior year! I spent 12 years in college admission and I also trained our admission tour guides, so I saw many families zip in and out during the spring.
Let’s walk through the timing of college visits, its importance, the ideal time of year to go on a college visit and a whole host of other things to consider.
Importance of College Visits
You know college visits are important, but what might be trickier is what you’re looking for. In my opinion, you’re looking for two important things:
Campus atmosphere: How does your student feel when he or she is on campus? Comfortable? Stressed? Challenged? While it sounds nebulous, a “feeling” can help guide your child to the right choice for them. The campus atmosphere, understanding campus life, and getting a feel for the friendliness of people counts for a lot in making a final decision.
Information about the campus: Aside from “feelings,” you’ll also scope out facts about the campus itself: student-to-faculty ratio, required courses, programs and majors (like considering the pros and cons of being a financial advisor by investing smart or becoming a teacher due to your love of kindergarteners), research opportunities, housing, dining, safety, facilities, costs, location, admission requirements and more.
Getting that perfect balance of intuition and insight often requires a little structure. That’s why many families turn to resources like OnCampus College Planning, which helps parents and students approach college visits with clarity and purpose. With guided strategies for choosing schools, building visit schedules, and knowing what to look for, families can make every campus tour more meaningful and less overwhelming.
When should you start visiting colleges? The time of year you visit and the timing of your visit can affect those two things.
Ideal Year in School to Start Visiting Colleges
Let’s go through the pros and cons of visiting colleges throughout high school. There are pros and cons to visiting colleges throughout each year of high school, and it’s important to recognize the benefits of visiting colleges freshman through senior year!
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of visiting colleges in the early stages of high school for your student.
Pros: You can help your child get early exposure to college and can start envisioning what the process will look like.
Cons: Your child might change their interests and goals over the next three years, so any interest in the initial colleges and universities might fade away. Your child may also not be mature enough to understand the benefits of visiting colleges at an early age, but that depends on the individual. It’s a good idea to consider whether your child can handle college visits this early in high school.
Junior Year
Junior year is the optimal time to visit colleges if you’re asking, “College visits when to start?” because students have more defined interests and goals. However, there are some pros and cons:
Pros: Juniors typically have defined goals and interests at this point in high school and can usually articulate some ideas of what they might want in a college and also what they might enjoy doing for a career. Visiting during junior year also gives them plenty of time to visit colleges, because they can do it over the summer and during senior year as well.
Cons: Juniors are usually busy this year in high school, so it might be a challenge to find a time to visit. They might also have a limited perspective on majors at this point (or change their minds often!). For this reason, it’s a good idea to turn to Papersowl writing service for academic support. They can help with writing assignments, editing papers and managing workloads. Some students may also feel early pressure to make decisions about where they want to attend college, which is unnecessary at this stage.
Senior Year
Senior year offers final opportunities to visit before applying to colleges. You can usually take advantage of specific events for accepted students, which can also help with finalizing decisions if necessary.
Pros: The largest benefit of visiting colleges during senior year is that your child is the closest they’ll ever be to knowing their major interests. That makes visits worth the wait, because they’ll be more zoned in and clued into what they want.
Cons: The major downside is that there is so much going on during senior year, between college applications, homework, senior year activities, athletics — the list goes on. Squeezing in college visits may seem next to impossible.
Ideal Time of Year to Visit Colleges
Some families overlook time of year when trying to figure out when is a good time to start visiting colleges. If they have an open day in January, they say, “Let’s go!” But trust me, visiting a college during a snowstorm will color your student’s experience forever. I remember a student from Florida visiting when the temps were in the negative digits on our campus — he never came back. (But then again, it gave him an idea of what it would look like to live on campus during the winter months, so we weren’t hiding anything from him!)
At any rate, it’s still a good idea to look at the weather for a few specific reasons.
Spring and summer visits invite warmer weather and more flexible schedules, but the downside is that there are fewer students on campus, so you miss out on typical academic year activities, such as more robust classes or events on campus. So, the pros and cons:
Pros: Warmer, flexible
Cons: Fewer events and students
Some schools organize special summer programs that let prospective students explore campus life in unique ways while also providing academic enrichment. Another option is to consider online summer courses for high school students offered by Silicon Valley High School, which can help prepare students academically while giving them flexibility in their schedules. Taking advantage of both in-person and online opportunities can give families a more complete view of what to expect from the college experience.
Fall Visits
There’s nothing better than crunching through the leaves on a crisp, blue-sky day in October — especially on a gorgeous college campus.
College campuses bustle with students in the fall and offer a realistic view of academic and social life. The downside is that it’s a busy application season and it can be tougher to balance school and other commitments when you visit then. Here are the pros and cons in a nutshell:
Pros: Lively campus, realistic view of academic and social life
Cons: Busy season; might get more personalized experience in the summer
Winter Visits
Things slow down during the winter months on campuses, but you’re also risking the potential for running into bad weather and experiencing limited outdoor activities, such as football games. Do you like to ice skate through your college visit? (Ha!)
Pros: Quieter; can see what the campus is really like during a potentially chilly time
Cons: Potential for bad weather
Ideal Day of the Week to Visit Colleges
Fridays and Mondays are the most popular days to visit campuses, for good reason — they butt up to the weekend. Fridays are the all-around most popular day to visit campuses because you might tap into a day off of school here and there. When I worked in admission, Fridays in the fall were crazy. The admission counselors and tour guides hopped from one student meeting to the next, hardly able to stop for lunch!
If you can visit during the middle of the week, you might benefit from more personalized attention on an individual campus visit, more so than you would on a Friday!
Ideal Time of Day to Visit Colleges
What’s the best time of day to visit college campuses? During a lazy afternoon or a busy morning?
Let’s take a look, but first of all, it’s important to understand that many visits last longer than just an hour or an hour and a half. Many might span the full morning and part of the afternoon, depending on what you choose to do while on campus. If you’re doing a tour, meeting with the admission office and financial aid office and eating lunch on campus, your student’s visit will span the morning and early afternoon.
However, if you have just a few things planned, let’s look at which is the most beneficial.
Morning Visits
If you arrive bright and early, you have the benefit of attending morning classes and observing the campus energy in the morning. Many colleges and universities tend to slow down in the afternoon as students finish up their classes for the day, so you can see how the campus “wakes up.”
Pros: Launch right into the hustle and bustle; can observe campus energy
Cons: Can be a busy time to visit campus
Afternoon Visits
Slower and more leisurely afternoons on some campuses might be exactly what the doctor ordered, particularly if your child is more nervous about the college search. If they need to be eased into the college search process, you may want to take advantage of meeting faculty and students and exploring extracurricular activities in a calmer setting. It seems like afternoons on campus are the juxtaposition of crazy mornings.
Pros: Often seem calmer
Cons: Things may be wrapping up for the day
Evening Visits
One of the most important things to note about evening visits is that colleges don’t schedule visits in the evening. However, you can spend the night on campus, and you can schedule that with an admission office.
Pros: Can experience the dorm life and social activities
Cons: Cannot book traditional college visits (unless you arrange to spend the night with someone on campus to check out the residence halls and student life
You’ve probably noticed that there are a few teensy problems with trying to fit college visits in, and that almost always has to do with your already jam-packed schedule — yours and your child’s.
Let’s take a look at some of the factors standing in your way.
Academic Schedule
Your child’s school likely gives them a few excused absences for college visits (the standard is usually three days) but they likely can’t just pick up and leave whenever they want. Therefore, it’s important to consider the optimal time to go during the school year. Consider utilizing school holidays for visits, unless, of course, the college has that time off as well.
Time visits around exams and project deadlines, in-season sports and other types of challenges that might get in your way.
College Calendars
What do colleges and universities have on the docket? Align visits with college open house events and visit when students are on campus for a realistic experience. Visiting when students are on winter break can lead to a lackluster experience, because college campuses look so… dead… during winter breaks.
Personal Factors
Is your child actually ready to visit campuses? A student questioning his ability to turn in every single assignment on time might not be mentally ready to consider colleges. Or a student worried about what it might look like to live off campus might not be emotionally prepared to consider college yet.
Again, the family schedule also plays a role. If you’re super busy with work or only have two personal days off during an academic year, you may really have to plan on how to make college visits work.
How to Plan When to Go for the Ideal College Visit Experience
Whether you’re concerned about organizing your college experience around your activities, the high school calendar or even the weather, you can do a lot to ensure you maximize your experience. Here’s how.
Step 1: Decide your optimal year.
Will you visit early or late? Spring of junior year or summer before senior year? The best advice is to visit when your child has a clear idea of their interests and potential major. Here’s a great plan, in a few steps:
Spring semester junior year is the optimal time to visit because students typically have a clearer idea of their interests and future plans.
Students can use the summer before senior year to do additional visits to narrow down choices before applications.
Students can do a final visit senior year before application deadlines.
Seniors can also attend admitted student days to make a final decision about which college to attend.
Is it okay to wait until senior year to visit colleges?
In short, yes. If your child has no clue about their major or what they’d like to do in the future, opting for fall or the summer before senior year visits may make sense. However, it’s important to consider when applications are due, so this process is likely ideal for schools with rolling admissions only. It might not make sense to attempt waiting till senior year to apply to schools with early applications, like MIT.
Step 2: Decide your visit period.
Decide the best times of year and specific dates when colleges are in session. Try to work around fall and spring breaks because you won’t get a full experience of the college campus when students aren’t there. Also, try to avoid midterms and finals. You may not know when those will occur, but a quick call to the admission office can give you an idea.
Next, look at your child’s school calendar for potential visit dates. Check into school holidays and weekends. Don’t forget to check the weather!
Finally, look at your family schedule. Where are soccer games and volleyball games interfering with the general schedule? What can you miss? Where can you absolutely not take work off?
Step 3: Decide the time of day that works best.
Naturally, the time of day you plan to visit depends a lot on your travel logistics. If you get to a college late at night, the most logical step is to schedule your visit for the next morning. If you must drive two hours to get there, your best bet might be to arrive at 10 a.m. to give yourself time to drive.
Whatever the case, add flexibility to your schedule and always consider the possibility that you may visit a campus again!
When is the Best Time to Start Visiting Colleges?
When is the right time to start visiting colleges? It’s a time that aligns with your schedule, your child’s year in school and even aligns to the time of day that works best. It’s important to carefully plan, and try to do it early.
Need help creating a visit schedule? College Money Tips can help you do that! Email [email protected] for assistance scheduling a comprehensive visit schedule for your student and family.
FAQs
Still have FAQs about when to start doing college visits? Let’s tackle ’em.
What age should you start doing college tours?
I love this question because it’s such an important question when considering when to start making college visits. So many families feel in the dark. They don’t want to feel left behind and they also don’t want to start early. You can start doing college tours at any age, but the ideal timeline is to get started during junior year.
Is sophomore year too early to visit colleges?
Absolutely not. If you have a child who is gung-ho about college visits, start them! It’s fun to take advantage of the excitement with younger students, but remember that it’s possible that they might forget the details of individual colleges by the time they’re seniors.
How early is too early to look at colleges?
I remember working with students in junior high on group visits, and I thought that was too early when considering when to start doing college visits. They honestly didn’t grasp the finer details of what college was about, such as having a “minor” and how classes worked. However, if you have a junior high student and a high schooler and they’re interested, by all means, allow them to tag along on your older child’s visits!
A college education is essential to career development and lifelong learning, but there’s no denying that it can be a costly investment, especially with tuition, fees and accommodation becoming increasingly expensive every year.
Our previous post guides parents through ways to reduce college costs, such as taking advantage of dual-enrollment programs to give kids a headstart in transitioning to college while also saving money on tuition for a few courses or even an entire semester.
However, beyond tuition and boarding costs, one of the essential college expenses to prepare for is health care. How do you. handle college student health care?
Financial services company Bankrate estimates that medical care costs can reach up to $2,500 per year, with the costs being higher if your child needs prescription medication or medical services not covered by the campus health centers. Since health and wellness significantly influence academic performance, below are ways to prepare for and meet your kids’ health care needs in college while still saving money for other essential expenses like technology and emergency funds.
Your Options for Health Care Coverage
What exactly are your options for health care coverage?
Parent health insurance: Your child can remain on your health insurance plans until they turn 26, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. This option provides coverage for a wide range of medical services and is often convenient for students.
University health plans: Many universities and colleges offer their own health insurance plans specifically designed for students. These plans typically cover services provided at the university health center and may include options for both on-campus and off-campus care.
Government programs: Undergraduate students with low incomes may qualify for government-sponsored health insurance programs like Medicaid. Eligibility requirements vary by state, so check with your state’s Medicaid office to see if your child will qualify.
Private health insurance: You can also purchase private health insurance plans if your child doesn’t qualify for coverage under parent insurance or through their university. Private plans offer flexibility in choosing providers and coverage options but may be more expensive.
Health insurance marketplaces (ACA): Through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, undergraduate students can explore and purchase subsidized health insurance plans based on their income level. You may want to look into this if your child doesn’t have access to other coverage options.
Student health centers: Most campuses have on-campus health centers that provide basic medical services to students at low or no cost. While these centers may not replace comprehensive insurance coverage, they offer convenient access to care for minor illnesses and injuries.
COBRA coverage: Undergraduate students who recently lost coverage under a parent’s health insurance plan may be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage, which allows them to continue the same coverage for a limited time period. However, COBRA can be expensive as the individual is responsible for the entire premium.
Get an idea of all your options and compare costs and coverages so you know which works best for your child. Understand enrollment deadlines and other factors so you don’t lose out on any one type of coverage, including university coverage.
Review Your Child’s Current Health Insurance Coverage
Young adults stay under their parents’ insurance plans until age 26, but it may not be the most ideal if your child moves to college out of state and can’t stay covered by the plan’s network of care providers.
Ensure you understand the details of their coverage so you can compare it with campus health plans, which can cost an annual average of $2,924 for public universities and $3,874 for private schools.
These school-sponsored plans can be more affordable than getting health insurance through the marketplace and help you save money by lumping the price of on-campus care with tuition and fees.
Consider Additional Coverage
If you choose to stick to your child’s current plan, then at least consider additional coverage, such as vision insurance, which costs an average of $95. Considering college students are at risk of eye conditions like computer vision syndrome and myopia due to increased screen time and online learning, vision insurance can help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for routine eye exams and corrective eyewear. Fortunately, many optical retailers, including the budget-friendly Eyebuydirect, accept vision insurance even when you order glasses online for new or updated prescriptions. While the platform already provides stylish and affordable frames starting at $6, the cost savings from insurance can help your child afford additional protective features like blue light filters while still staying on budget.
Look into Online Health Services
Health-related expenses can also rack up easily if your kids attend school outside of your home state, whether it’s due to kids traveling for routine care or their insurance coverage being geographically limited. Fortunately, online health services are a viable option for saving time and money while still getting them the quality care that they deserve.
In the same vein, considering money transfer apps can significantly streamline students’ financial management, essential for managing tight budgets and ensuring timely payments for various services, including health care.
Given that more than 60% of college students meet the diagnostic criteria for at least one mental health problem, virtual health providers like TimelyCare can make mental health services more accessible to college students. The platform partners with over 300 institutions worldwide and provides up to nine free scheduled sessions of counseling and therapy every year.
In addition to these money-saving tips, instill healthy habits and choices into your kids’ daily lifestyles, such as eating well and sleeping on time. Continue to check in as they settle into college life, and you’ll find that the transition will be smooth and stress-free. Continue reading College Money Tips for more helpful resources.
Are you worried your child will graduate with crippling student loan debt?
Meet the family who cracked the code to debt-free college education and transformed their kids’ futures forever! With determination and strategic planning, they embarked on a dedicated scholarship hunt. From meticulous essay-crafting sessions to scouring for scholarship opportunities, they left no stone unturned.
And the results were staggering.
LaWanda Hanes mentors first-time single moms in Waxahatchee, Texas, and at her church.
“Nobody can afford college, but everyone can go,” LaWanda often says.
It’s one of her favorite phrases, and she repeats it often with the single moms she mentors, many of whom believe they can’t make college happen for themselves.
She, of course, mentors her own kids as well. Hanes and her husband, Thomas, vowed that their two children, Jasmine and Tre, wouldn’t face the same student loan burdens that they encountered after their own graduations.
“We decided our kids would not borrow for school,” LaWanda said emphatically.
No ifs, ands or buts.
The dream is coming true.
LaWanda and Thomas’ daughter, Jasmine, graduated with no debt. Jasmine went to college at University of North Texas for interior design and graduated in two and a half years. She went into the university with an associate’s degree through a dual-degree program.
Their son, Tre, is on his way to graduating debt-free with an engineering degree through the University of Oklahoma’s merit program. He’s currently in his third year of college.
The Spark for a Debt-Free Degree
The Haneses’ desire for their children to achieve a debt-free education grew out due to their own student loans.
“Our journey with our kids started with our journey to get out of debt ourselves. We have five degrees. [Thomas] has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and I have a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees,” LaWanda said. “Fast forward 10 years, and we are 30 years old, with two young kids and $110,000 in student loan debt.”
They started with less debt, with about $75,000 to $78,000 to their names out of college. Some twists and turns required them to take deferment and unemployment, and they found themselves $110,000 in debt in no time, with both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. (The interest that built on itself didn’t help, either.)
The Payoff Day: The Very Best Christmas Present
LaWanda said her kids sacrificed just as much as she and her husband did. LaWanda said Tre and Jasmine had grown up understanding that there wasn’t a lot of money available to purchase “extra” things at the store. “They understood how hard it was for us to get out from under these student loans,” LaWanda said.
After one Christmas with few gifts, LaWanda said she and Thomas took their kids to the bank and gave each child $500. Both kids turned the money over to a loan officer.
The whole family felt like screaming with happiness. They were finally out from under their student loan debt burden.
Immediately after, LaWanda and Thomas took them to dinner at Red Robin, where everything the kids had asked for Christmas sat under the table. The excitement bubbled over so much that they actually did need to scream.
Their waitress heard the commotion and said, “I just want to know what’s going on here. It sounds like something amazing.” When she heard their story, the waitress almost jumped up and down alongside them — their excitement was infectious.
The Panic Moment
Early in high school, however, Jasmine worried that she wouldn’t be able to pay for college.
Turns out, Jasmine thought it was a money problem.
A worried LaWanda reassured her, but was firm. She told her daughter, “You have to go to college or have a skill set.” She added that the family had a 529 but said that the savings wouldn’t take care of everything. She informed Jasmine that the less they would have to pay out of pocket, the better.
Two Debt-Free Degrees: How They Did It
“We started junior year. Nobody told us we should start looking for scholarships earlier,” LaWanda said. If she knew she needed to look earlier, she would have.
Jasmine and LaWanda had a system — they met every Sunday about the scholarship plan for the week. LaWanda paid her kids $5 for every scholarship application they completed, but they had to write the essay. LaWanda agreed to put the packages together for them.
Jasmine put about 60 to 70 scholarships on her list, and Tre had about 30.
Jasmine had an interest in the hobby space, danced, sang and competed in softball. She was also a cheerleader. She looked into scholarships in all those areas, as well as local sorority and fraternity chapters, local banks, mom’s clubs and the chamber of commerce.
At a certain point, Jasmine had a system down so that all she had to do was tweak her essays to fit the scholarship. They had a color coding method on a spreadsheet — green was for anything not submitted, yellow indicated scholarships “in process” and red indicated “in danger of missing the deadline” or “denied.”
“Both of them got merit scholarships. People were just throwing things at us. Jasmine’s story was she got so much money in scholarships that the school ws sending us checks back!” LaWanda even said that the pastor of their church called Jasmine the “rich kid.”
“A lot of wins were local wins. We didn’t get a lot of national scholarship.We kept things more local and at church, people would send us stuff and just want to help us,” said LaWanda. She added that they both received $10,000 to $12,000 every year from churches in Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma., which helped make up the bulk of their awards.
Their son’s path to engineering scholarships wasn’t quite as easy, but with perseverance and a little help from diversity and inclusion programs, he secured the funds needed to take care of college.
By the time it was all said and done, Jasmine went to college for free.
Financial Discipline for a Lifetime
But it wasn’t just about scholarships. LaWanda and Thomas instilled financial discipline from a young age, teaching their kids the value of budgeting and saving. Jasmine now has a paid-for car (in cash!) and the freedom to pursue her passions without the shackles of student loans.
From prioritizing scholarship applications to leveraging local resources, the Haneses prove that it’s possible to graduate without student debt.
Now that she’s out of school, Jasmine has noticed how her peers have begun paying back their student loans and struggle to make ends meet.
“She thanks us all the time that we helped her go to college without student loans,” LaWanda said.
So, if you’re ready to say hello to a debt-free future, join the debt-free revolution today! Get the exact steps in the College Money Tips debt-free degree checklist so your child can avoid loans.
Everyone in this world wants to become financially stable—the sooner, the better. Unfortunately, there’s no magic formula for becoming financially stable. Even Google can’t help everyone become rich fast.
Spending less than you earn and saving as much money as possible might help to a certain extent. But in a world where the cost of living keeps increasing, saving more money than you spend may seem impossible.
The right degree, however, can offer a pathway to stability and prosperity within a reasonable number of years after graduating. Here, we’ll discuss three degrees — an MBA, nursing and computer science degrees — that can pave your way to financial stability.
Whether you’re a parent looking to change your educational situation or want to pass on some advice to your high schooler, let’s dive in!
Key Takeaway
An MBA, nursing and computer science degree all offer financial stability through increased earning potential, job security, career advancement opportunities, access to benefits, networking and personal development. These degrees can equip you with the skills and credentials needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market.
What is Financial Stability?
What does it mean when we talk about “financial stability,” exactly? Sounds like one of those terms a stuffy old bank manager would talk to you about, doesn’t it?
The financial stability meaning refers to having control over your financial situation and can handle unexpected events or emergencies when they come up, meaning you don’t experience significant hardship or disruption to your standard of living.
Financial stability means you may be able to:
Navigate financial challenges like job loss or medical emergencies.
Avoid excessive debt burdens that lead to an inability to meet financial obligations.
Cover essential expenses with emergency savings.
Stay afloat with consistent financial support.
Create and stick to a budget.
Make informed investment decisions and plan for retirement.
How a Degree Can Help You Achieve Financial Stability
Choosing the right degree can help you achieve financial stability, and that’s obvious, right? After all, the more education you have under your belt, the more you’ll earn.
However, a degree can help you achieve more financial stability in other ways, including:
Higher earning potential: It’s not just about how much you’ll make out of the gate. Individuals with higher levels of education tend to earn more over their lifetimes compared to those with lower levels of education. You’re also facing far higher career advancement job opportunities.
Job security: You’re less likely to face unemployment or underemployment with the right degree, especially during economic downturns.
Access to benefits and perks: Some employers offer additional benefits and perks — retirement plans, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and bonuses. These “extras” can bolster your financial well-being.
Networking opportunities: You can network! Being part of a network of peers, professors and professional alumni from your college or university helps tremendously, and is one of the fringe benefits of financial stability. In a way, you’ll always have someone who can “catch” you if you fall. If you lose a job, why not just dip into your network?
Entrepreneurship: If you want to start your own business or pursue entrepreneurship, a degree can help you get there. You may be able to multiply your success and financial stability as an entrepreneur.
Does a degree guarantee financial stability?
No. Plus, it’s important to consider factors like the cost of education, student loan debt (taking on tons of need-based student aid can affect you negatively) and job market trends when making decisions. However, pursuing the right degree for your situation, needs and personality will give you a better chance of success than never pursuing it at all.
Degrees to Consider for Financial Stability
The three degrees are likely ones you’ve already heard of. Why not consider a Master of Business Administration, nursing or computer science? Let’s take a look at each, as well as the potential salary you might earn in each field.
Degree 1: Master of Business Administration
Many executives believe that attending business school has contributed to their career success. Earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) will contribute to yours.
An MBA serves as a gateway to management roles and business leadership positions, which pay higher salaries than non-management jobs. Poets and Quants discloses that the average salary for MBA graduates in 2022, as reported by 17 business schools, was $147,648.
If you want to work in a management or business-related field, consider enrolling in an MBA program. This degree will equip you with a deep understanding of business principles and management practices. You will study a wide range of subjects in depth, including marketing, operations, finance and strategic management.
MBA graduates possess strong leadership and decision-making skills, which make them valuable assets in both entrepreneurial and corporate settings. Many business schools even offer online MBA programs, which makes them suitable for working individuals. Opt for them if you cannot afford to enroll in a traditional in-class program.
Degree 2: Nursing
Health care is the fastest-growing industry. It is predicted to create about 45% of all the projected job gains between 2022 and 2032.
Health care workers — surgeons, physicians and registered nurses — are always in demand. However, of all health care workers, registered nurses (RNs) are in the most demand. That is because the U.S. will experience a shortage of RNs in the upcoming years. Why not pursue a degree in nursing and fill the positions of new or retiring nurses?
A career in nursing is not only fulfilling, but also offers financial stability. With a nursing degree, you can earn between $62,253 and $140,275.
As a nursing student, you will be exposed to a diverse range of subjects, from the principles of nursing practice, patient care, and communication skills to responding to urgent situations. You can pursue your career as an RN in a variety of settings—clinics, hospitals, schools, and community settings.
There are several paths to becoming a registered nurse. Some earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), whereas others opt for an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). Nowadays, many universities are offering an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN). These programs are designed for people with bachelor’s degrees in another discipline.
If you plan to switch your nursing career, go for the ABSN program. Quite a few nursing schools offer online accelerated nursing programs. Consider enrolling yourself in an online program if you’re a working individual. One significant benefit of online ABSN is flexibility. You can learn at your own pace and schedule without attending the traditional classroom every day.
Finding the right program, however, can be daunting. As per Online ABSN Programs, accreditation, student support and clinical placement assistance are three criteria that you must consider to narrow your options. Go for an online ABSN program only when a university is CCNE-accredited, offers advisors or counselors and assists with placements.
Degree 3: Computer Science
The demand for computer science is high in today’s digital world. If you are tech-savvy, you must definitely pursue a degree in computer science. This degree will equip you with a strong foundation in programming, algorithms, and problem-solving skills. Your knowledge will prepare you for diverse roles.
A degree in computer science opens doors to an array of career opportunities in fields like cybersecurity, data analysis, software engineering and artificial intelligence. These fields, as the world embraces everything digital, are booming and will continue to in the future.
For example, the median pay for a cybersecurity analyst is $112,000 per year. Their average additional cash compensation is $13,097. The average base salary of a data scientist, on the other hand, is $103,500 per year.
Choose the Right Degree for You
The degree you pursue will have a significant impact on your financial stability as well as long-term success. So, should you go for one of these if you know in your heart that they’re not right for you?
No. If you can’t stand the sight of blood or bodily fluids, you shouldn’t choose nursing just because you’ll earn a decent salary. Think through your talents, skills and natural tendencies so you can choose your options wisely.
Whether you’re interested in business, healthcare or technology, there are plenty of degree options that can lead to financial stability and a rewarding career. Considering your passion, interests and long-term goals will help you choose a degree that aligns with your passions as well as position you for financial success.
FAQs
Let’s look at a few frequently asked questions you may still wonder about with regard to pursuing financial stability.
What should you do to reach financial stability?
There are endless possibilities for reaching financial stability, including creating a budget, building an emergency fund, paying off high-interest debt, investing in your retirement, diversifying income sources, maintaining insurance coverage, educating yourself on personal finance (including reading books!), setting financial goals and seeking professional advice when needed. Finally, the most important one of all: Practice disciplined spending and live within your means.
Do you need a college degree to be financially stable?
You can attain financial stability in various ways — college isn’t your only option. You can also pursue vocational training, skilled trades, entrepreneurship and other routes to achieve stability. Higher education can enhance opportunities, but it’s not the sole determinant of financial success.
What degree makes the most money?
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field degrees typically bring home the most bacon, particularly in engineering, computer science and certain branches of medicine. Specific disciplines such as petroleum engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and medical specialties like orthopedics or anesthesiology often command higher salaries due to high demand and specialized skills. However, other factors come into the mix, including experience, location, industry and individual career trajectory.
Parents, have you ever considered how you’ll pay for college? What’s a great way to get in shape and grow a side hustle? Why not consider a dog walking business?
Starting a dog walking business isn’t just about earning an income. You can tap into so many other benefits — schedule flexibility, offering practical solutions for dog owners and a pathway to take care of a portion of your child’s college education. Plus, who can resist those puppy licks and love?
Here’s how to start a dog walking business to pay for college, and if you want to start small, how to start a dog walking business in your neighborhood.
Key Takeaway
There are approximately 29,000 dog walking enterprises in the U.S. Starting a dog walking business can be a lucrative way to pay for your child’s college education. Arm yourself with a love for canines, some treats, dog training knowledge, credentials to start a successful business.
Why Start a Dog Walking Business to Pay for College?
Starting a dog walking business to pay for college has so many benefits, including the opportunity for supplemental income, flexibility, low overhead costs and long-term financial planning:
Supplemental income: The most obvious benefit of starting a dog walking business is that it offers a reliable source of income to contribute toward your child’s college fund. It can help alleviate the burden of college tuition and expenses.
Flexibility: Luckily, you don’t have to commit to a nine-to-five job with a dog walking job. You can walk dogs whenever it works for you! (Well, obviously within the confines of your clients’ schedules — the people, not the dogs.) Ultimately, you can balance your responsibilities as a dog walker with your existing commitments.
Can work on the business with your child: Why not take your child along? Your college-bound child can learn more about building their own business in college. This comes with dozens of lessons, including entrepreneurship, financial management, customer service and the value of hard work. Plus, you can get in some quality bonding time. Who doesn’t love connecting with their high schooler and at the same time, teaching them about responsibility and work ethic? Your child can even learn how to start a dog walking business as a teenager.
Low overhead costs: Luckily, you don’t need much in the way of capital to start a dog walking business. You likely don’t even need to purchase leashes, because the dog owners will likely have those for you. You may just need basic supplies like waste bags and great tennis shoes for walking. There’s no need for a physical storefront or expensive equipment.
Long-term financial planning: Starting a dog walking business now means you’ll fund your child’s college education and set a foundation for long-term financial stability. You can keep growing your business even after your child graduates from college! (They may also want to make a veterinary practice transition after their experience!)
The amount of money you can earn is limitless, so consider setting a goal and going to town (literally!) with a dog in tow!
How to Start a Dog Walking Business to Pay for College
So, how do you get a dog walking business going? Is it as simple as grabbing a couple of leashes and hitting the pavement? Let’s take a look at some steps you can take.
Step 1: Understand the market.
Before diving in, it’s essential to understand the dog walking market in your area. Research the demand for dog walking services, what competitors are charging and any additional services they offer. Remember, your service isn’t just about walking dogs; it’s about offering peace of mind to pet owners who are unable to provide their pets with daily exercise due to work or other commitments.
Step 2: Craft a flexible business plan and build credentials.
A clear plan serves as the foundation of your dog walking business. Consider the following:
Services offered: Besides walking, you might offer pet sitting, feeding or even basic grooming.
Pricing structure: Determine how you’ll charge (per walk, per day, per week) and whether you’ll offer packages or subscriptions.
Branding: Create a memorable name and logo that resonate with your target market.
Clients may also want you to demonstrate your credentials, such as your ability to do pet first aid/CPR, which you can get through the American Red Cross or Pet Professional Guild; basic dog training knowledge, insurance, bonding and membership in professional organizations.
In addition, do your best to build client testimonials that can help establish trust and bring new customers to your business.
Step 3: Streamline operations with technology.
Leverage technology to manage your schedule, client communications, and payments. Platforms like ThriveNeighbor can be particularly useful, offering tools designed to streamline the administrative side of your business. This allows you to focus more on your studies and less on paperwork, all while providing a professional service to your clients.
Step 4: Market your services.
Utilize resources, social media and word of mouth to promote your dog walking business. Tailor your marketing efforts to highlight the benefits for busy college students, professionals and local residents. Emphasize the flexibility of your services, the health benefits for their pets and the peace of mind your reliability offers. Create flyers and business cards to leave in local pet stores or vet offices. Remember, your marketing should highlight the benefits of your services.
Step 5: Deliver exceptional service.
Excelling in the dog walking business requires more than just showing up. Build strong relationships with your clients (both human and canine) by being reliable, professional and genuinely caring. Incorporate personal touches, such as sending updates during walks or remembering individual preferences to set your service apart.
Step 6: Manage your finances wisely.
Keep meticulous records of your income and expenses. Use financial management tools or software to track your earnings and budget effectively. Your goal is to make money while minimizing debt, so financial prudence is key. Consider setting aside a portion of your earnings for business growth or unexpected expenses.
Step 7: Balance business with everyday life.
The flexibility of a dog walking business is its greatest advantage. Schedule walks around your regular nine-to-five job and other commitments, ensuring you’re never compromising the rest of your schedule. Use the business as an opportunity to enhance your time management skills, balancing client commitments with academic deadlines and opportunities for rest and relaxation.
Step 8: Embrace the benefits beyond income.
Apart from the financial rewards, your dog walking business offers numerous benefits. It’s a chance to engage with your community, build a network, and develop entrepreneurial skills. Furthermore, the physical activity and time spent with pets can be a great stress reliever, offering a welcome break from the pressures of everyday life.
Step 9: Leverage online resources.
Tap into online resources to grow your business, such as running continual Facebook ads or promoting your business to a list. These resources can provide valuable insights, tools and networking opportunities to help grow your business and reach more customers. You can also take an online training course, such as this one on dog First Aid and CPR to boost your resume and get more clients.
Step 10: Seek feedback and adjust.
Ask for feedback regularly and be open to making adjustments. Whether it’s changing your routes, offering additional services or adjusting your pricing, being responsive to your clients’ needs will help your business thrive.
How Much Can You Make with a Dog Walking Business?
The cost of dog walking services can vary depending on various factors:
Location
Walk duration
Number of dogs
Additional services offered
Reputation of the dog walking business
The average hourly pay in California is $16.99 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. Pay ranges between $14.23 to $19.47 in California, though you might make more, such as up to $25 or $35 per hour.
Some dog walkers may offer discounts for regular or multiple walks per week, while others may charge extra for additional services such as feeding, administering medication or longer walks.
Dog walking rates may be higher in urban areas with higher living costs compared to rural areas. Research local dog walking businesses and compare prices to find one that fits your budget and meets your needs.
How Effectively Can a Dog Walking Business Help Pay for College?
So, can it really help pay for college? It entirely depends on the number of clients you have and what you charge. For example, let’s say you walk three dogs for an hour each day, and you charge $25 per dog.
3 x $35 = $75 per day
If you walk them for seven days (three dogs, each day of the week), that’s $525, and if you do that for four weeks, you earn $2,100 per month. (That might be on the higher end of what you might be able to charge, depending on your area.)
Throw in some extras, like grooming or giving pets medication, and you could earn even more! This one small business could easily help pay for your child’s college tuition, but again, it depends on the number of consistent clients you have and the amount they’re willing to pay.
Consider a Dog Walking Business to Pay for Your Child’s College Education
If you love dogs, this type of business may make a lot of sense for you! If you like animals in general, you could consider expanding your business — though it’s not likely that you’ll get a lot of traction from a cat-walking business! However, there is a great need for pet sitting when families go away on vacation or on holidays.
Ultimately, consider how you might want to create a side hustle that revolves around pets and helps you craft a lifestyle that helps pay for college and gives your child countless opportunities.
FAQs
Is it hard to start a dog walking business?
Anyone can start a dog walking business because no formal qualifications are needed, though you do need to know a bit about handling dogs and dog training. You may also need to know some formal skills, such as pet CPR. Also, you may need a firm understanding of how to market your business to your area.
How do I start being a dog walker?
Start advertising your services everywhere — in coffee shops, in restaurants, in other businesses. Start running Facebook ads to dog owners in your area to make them aware of your services, and get one or two clients to give you a positive testimonial. Consider setting up a Facebook page and website to advertise your services as well.
Where do dog walkers make the most money?
As you might expect, dog walkers make the most money in large cities, so if you live in a large metropolitan area, you’ll have a lot of benefits in the form of potential clientele. Dog walkers make the most money in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and New York.
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