# Tuition savings for nontraditional college students

October 19, 2022 • 5 Minutes
Written by[Elizabeth Exline](/blog/authors/elizabeth-exline.html)

Nontraditional students — individuals who don’t attend college directly after high school — often bring prior education, work experience, military training and other qualifying background experience that can support tuition savings. These cost-saving opportunities may include transfer credits, scholarships, employer tuition assistance and alternative credit options. The guide below explains how nontraditional students can evaluate these pathways and identify tuition savings before enrolling.

## What tuition savings options can help nontraditional students?

Much like pants, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to reducing education expenses. Potential savings often depend on a student’s program, institution and prior experience.

The following strategies can help nontraditional students build a plan for tuition savings.

### Transfer eligible credits

A nontraditional student may not yet have a degree, but that doesn’t mean he lacks college credit. If a student has successfully completed college courses online, in person, through dual enrollment in high school or at a college as an adult,  those credit hours can be[applied to a bachelor's degree](https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/using-college-credit-transfer-to-return-to-school.html)program.

### Find equivalency between experience and college credit

Work and life experience go by many names, including prior learning assessment ([PLA](https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/what-are-prior-learning-assessments.html)), credit for prior learning and experiential learning.  In each case, the idea is similar: knowledge gained through life and work experience may be translated into college credit.

If a student has professional licenses, certifications or on-the-job training, none, some or all of it may count as college credit. If students have life experiences like raising children, for example, that correlate to approved topics, they can journal about them to potentially earn college credit.  

### Apply military experience to college

One of the biggest assets military service members bring to the civilian table is their training. Whether it’s fixing (or flying) planes, negotiating contracts or leading others, service members may introduce a range and wealth of skills to the civilian workforce after they transition out of the military.

And that includes education. Credit-worthy education is documented differently by the military branches and made available via transcript. Some universities also offer[special military rates](/military.html)for service members, veterans and their spouses.

### Test out of classes

In high school, there were AP exams.As adults, students may have even more testing options to demonstrate college-level knowledge gained through life and work experience.

One popular test option is the [College Level Examination Program ](https://clep.collegeboard.org/) (CLEP), which consists of multiple-choice questions in a variety of subjects. Each test takes about one-and-a-half to two hours to complete, and scores are available immediately.

[The DSST](https://www.getcollegecredit.com/) offers more than 30 exams for lower- and upper-level credits, and Berlitz® language evaluations both offer additional pathways to earning college credit. 

### Find scholarships to support student savings

Perhaps one of the most well-known ways to save money on education expenses is[scholarships](/tuition-financial-aid/scholarships.html), and this is true for traditional and nontraditional students alike.

Scholarships are like grants in that they don’t have to be repaid, and they can be offered by a variety of sources. Schools, clubs, and religious and ethnic organizations are potential sources for scholarships.

When it comes to finding the right scholarship, students should keep in mind that they can apply for _and receive_ more than one. They just have to keep track of what each scholarship is for (like tuition, books and so on) and what the rules are. Some scholarships, for example, can be applied generally to a degree program, while others must be used within specific parameters. 

### Explore employer tuition assistance

Employer educational assistance is essentially money an employer can contribute toward an employee's education. Not every employer offers assistance, and those that do may have varying rules about who’s eligible and for which programs.

The IRS allows employers to contribute up to $5,250 to an employee’s education, tax-free, each year. This assistance is separate from an employee’s salary, and so it’s not counted as income.

### Look at alternative credit providers to reduce education costs

Whether they want to graduate faster or earn credits for less than what regular tuition costs, nontraditional students may be able to take courses through their university’s approved learning-platform partners.[Study.com](https://study.com/)and[Sophia.org](http://www.sophia.org/)are two examples of these kinds of platforms.

Learning platforms offer low-cost courses whose credits transfer to select schools and programs. They can be a convenient way to “double up” on classes, meaning students may take one through the school and another through the platform to expedite their degree program. They may also use these providers to complete[general education](/online-degrees/general-education.html)requirements.

## How can University of Phoenix support tuition savings?

University of Phoenix offers several resources that may support tuition savings for nontraditional students, including transfer credit pathways, employer alliances and the [Savings Explorer®](https://www.phoenix.edu/cost-savings) tool. In 2025, University of Phoenix students saved an average of $11,000 and one year off their undergraduate degree using a combination of transfer credits and work and life experience.

Ways to save at University of Phoenix include:

- College[transfer credits](https://www.phoenix.edu/tuition-financial-aid/transfer-credits.html)from accredited universities and colleges
- More than[1,000 organizations](https://www.phoenix.edu/tuition-financial-aid/employer-tuition-benefits.html)that provide employee tuition assistance
- Credit for[eligible military training](https://www.phoenix.edu/military.html)
- Credit for relevant[personal and professional experience](https://www.phoenix.edu/tuition-financial-aid/prior-learning-assessment.html)
- Up to[$3,000 in scholarships](https://www.phoenix.edu/tuition-financial-aid/scholarships.html)for qualifying students
- Lower-cost[general education](https://www.phoenix.edu/online-degrees/general-education.html)courses from alternative credit providers like Study.com and Sophia.org
- Credits from[national testing exams](https://clep.collegeboard.org/)

Balancing school with work, family and other responsibilities can be challenging for nontraditional students, but resources like these college-savings options can help make a degree more manageable. Success often depends on identifying the combination of savings options that best fits a student’s situation.

Contact University of Phoenix[for more information](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information)about these college savings options.

### ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Exline has been telling stories ever since she won a writing contest in third grade. She's covered design and architecture, travel, lifestyle content and a host of other topics for national, regional, local and brand publications. Additionally, she's worked in content development for Marriott International and manuscript development for a variety of authors.

This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.   
[Read more about our editorial process.](/blog/editorial-process.html)

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