Attending Community College First Community colleges offer low tuition rates for the first two years of college. It can save thousands and reduce how much money you save for kids college.   Earning College Credits in High School AP and IB Programs Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs allow students to earn college credits in high school. This can significantly decrease how much kids can save for college.   Dual Enrollment Dual enrollment programs let high school students take college courses. It is another excellent way to reduce total college costs.   Choosing In-State Public Institutions Attending an in-state public college is usually much cheaper than an out-of-state or private college. This choice can significantly affect how much money kids should save for college.