Students with Special Responsibilities
If you are returning to school later in life, you may have additional responsibilities that make your decision to continue your education more difficult. If you are caring for dependent children or elderly parents, finding the money in your budget to attend school may be impossible, and you may have reservations about going into debt with student loans.
Expenses and benefits to consider
Child and dependent care
If you have dependents, you will need to plan for more expenses than the average student when attending college or career school.
- – Child Care: Research the cost of dependent care in your area because child care can cost twice as much as a year’s worth of public college tuition. Perhaps attending school part-time is a better choice if the cost of child care is high in your area.
- – Dependent Care: The many expenses associated with caring for an elderly or disabled parent or other dependent can be difficult to manage without a full-time income. Consider the costs of medical treatments and medication as well as costs for care while you are in school. If you are enrolling in school-sponsored medical insurance, research their policies regarding dependent coverage before you give up your current medical insurance.
