Life as a California college student can be expensive, so any extra money which can be saved is a big help to pay for school. Some college students in California may not have time to work, or work few hours, so it is a must for them to save money to ensure they graduate from college. Below we have compiled ten great tips to help California college students save money while furthering their education.

Cut out the coffee or make it at home

If you are a big coffee drinker then you probably frequent Starbucks, but if you can cut out those trips you can save a lot of money each year. The best way to quit is to bring the coffee making in house, so that you reduce your costs. Another option is to quit coffee all together, and try to figure out a way to succeed without it.

Cancel the Netflix and cut back on iTunes

Many people have Netflix and do not take advantage of the service, which is why it is a good idea to cut it out while in college to help save money. There are a variety of free movies online, and you can rent many recent movies from the local library. It might be hard to stop using iTunes all together, but cutting back can help save you money. Try using online music services like Grooveshark, Pandora, or Hypem for your music.

Take advantage of student discounts

College students get discounts on a wide array of goods and services, but you need to do the research and see if it is possible for you to get a discount. California college students can get discounts on computers and software, in addition to local businesses and services.

Make Top Ramen your new best friend

If you want to eat cheap and save money while in a California college, then try stocking up on some Top Ramen. This is one of the cheapest noodle dishes you can get in bulk, and many college students have figured out easy ways to add things to their Top Ramen to make it even more filling.

Borrow textbooks or hunt for the best deals

Textbooks are expensive so network with friends on campus and see if you can borrow a textbook you need. If you cannot borrow a textbook then compare prices online to ensure you get the best deal. Then make sure you sell the book after you complete the class to get some of your money back.

Avoid impulse spending

It might not be fun, but you should create a budget while in college to avoid impulse spending. If you do not set rules, then you will often spend more money than you should, which can put you deeper in debt.

Cut out the car

Most colleges in California do not require students to have a car, and they can easily get around by walking, riding a bike, or public transportation. There are also Zipcar’s available at many California college campuses that students can use when necessary.

Save money on calls and texting

If you already have a smart phone like the iPhone then cut out your texting bill and use an app for texting. You can also reduce your phone bill by using Skype on your phone over wifi, or online via your computer.

Be a cheap drinker

It is unlikely that a California college student will cut out drinking, so if you do plan to drink alcohol while in school then make sure and do it cheap. Avoid paying high prices at bars and restaurants and wait for special nights or happy hours. Also drink more at the house or other parties to reduce your spending. There are a lot of cheap beers, wines, and liquors out there that will help you save money.

Cut your own hair or go to a cosmetology school for a cut

If you are a guy with short hair then you most likely can cut it yourself or have a friend cut it if you buy some tools. Women have a tougher time so they can try and use a local cosmetology school to save money on haircuts.

The University of Southern California has been very popular in 2010, and we are only a few months into the year. USC is once again in the news as they name the 11th president of the university, C.L. Max Nikias. Currently Nikias is the executive vice president and provost, but he will officially become the president on August 3rd as reported by USC. Nikias is going to succeed Steven Sample, who decided to retire last year in November. Sample has been president of the university since 1991, and he will be leaving the university in good hands with Nikias at the helm. Over his educational career, Nikias has raised millions for USC and the Viterbi School of Engineering where he was previously the dean. Students and faculty welcome the change, and think that the university will be led well by Nikias.

USC, as well as other UC schools in the state, still has a big battle ahead of them due to budget cuts. Because of this, having people like Nikias as president is a smart move as California colleges and universities need to make sure that they do everything they can to bring in revenue, including raising money for their endowments.  Nikias has been with USC since 1991, so he has an intimate knowledge of all of the inner workings of the school which should help him as president. He even beat out 75 other educators from around the U.S., that the USC trustees also considered for the role as president. Later this year we will get a chance to see what Nikias does with his first few months in office.

The University of California, Riverside is now the 17th college in the state which is using the car sharing service, Zipcar, to help reduce the need for on campus parking. California is a big state and there is a lot to do which means that students living on campus like to have a car so they can partake in things outside of school or the city. Often time students move to a UC or CSU college from other parts of the state or even outside California, leaving their cars behind. Zipcar now makes it easy for students at UC Riverside to get access to a car if they need one, 24hrs a day, seven days a week. So even if there is something last minute late at night, students can go and pick up a Zipcar at two different parking lots. Faculty and staff at UC Riverside are also able to use the Zipcars if needed, with the same rules and fees that apply to the students. There is an annual membership fee of $35, with the rental rates then costing $8 per hour, or $66 a day on weekdays, and $9 per hour, or $72 for a whole day on weekends.

Santa Clara University recently implmented Zipcar, and things are going well as are things at the other 15 colleges in California using the car sharing service. These fuel-efficient Zipcars are a great way to continually reduce the need for almost every student, faculty, or staff member to have a car on campus.  UC Riverside and other California colleges hope that this will make people feel so comfortable that they do not have to bother to bring their car to campus, which they may only use on the weekends or for emergencies. Below is the complete list of all of the colleges and universities in California using Zipcar.

• California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• California State University Chico
• California State University Long Beach
• Caltech
• Pomona College
• San Diego State University
• Santa Clara University
• Stanford University
• UC Davis
• UC Santa Cruz
• University of California, Irvine
• University of California, LA
• University of California, Riverside
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of California, San Diego
• University of San Diego
• University of Southern California

Fraternities from the University of California system are frequently in the news for their good and bad activities, but lately most of the press they have been receiving has been negative. A recent party held by UC San Diego fraternity students mocked Black History Month, and many students and administrators are upset. The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, also know as PIKE, was pointed to as the organizers of this party, but in fact it was not an official event from PIKE. There were students who were part of PIKE and other fraternities who were involved with the posting of it on Facebook. The reason why the UC San Diego administrators are so upset, is because this off-campus party was nicknamed the “Compton Cookout”, which urged attendees to “dress and act ghetto,” based upon certain stereotypes. Specifically atendees were asked to do things like wear big chains, dress in cheap clothing, have gold teeth, and speak loudly. Overall the vibe of the entire party was very negative, and was not well received by people, especially with how it related to Black History month, because it goes against core values the students should exhibit as students of UCSD.

The ripple effect of this event is already being felt, as California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass has called for an investigation into this situation. California is a very diverse state and the colleges and universities of the state do everything they can to make it a safe and open place for all students to learn. However as it stands now, this incident looks like it is not going away, and that there needs to be some change at California colleges and universities so these types of racist events do not happen in the future.

The California State University system is being forced to become more efficient with their budget, as they do not have enough money to offer enough classes to meet the student demand. Cutting classes is not enough, as there are a small minority of “super seniors” who are taking up space in classes which they do not need. Many times, when a student transfers from another California college, they have credits from classes which do not count towards their degree. Often, students take the incorrect classes because of poor planning, and other times they switch majors which makes many of their credits irrelevant. In order to push these super seniors along who have been trying to graduate for more than 5 years, the California State University system will work with students to get them on a plan to graduate. As more of the super seniors graduate it will open up classes to students who are struggling to get into the classes they need to graduate. In addition it will improve graduation rates, which are much lower than the University of California system.

Ultimately the goal is not to stop people from getting two or three bachelor’s degrees, but for now it is intended to have those students graduate with one degree and return when things improve. Students can also seek out private career colleges in California where class availability is not an issue, and a student can take their time to graduate with their degree. The bottom line is that there needs to be better communication among all private and public colleges in California so that students and administration can improve the rate at which all students graduate. Students also need to do more research into what they want to study, so that they do not waste their time, or the university’s time switching majors. This is why many schools across California and the U.S. actually ask students to declare their majors upon enrolling so they can stay on the right track to graduate on time.

Students attending classes in fall 2010 at one of the 23 California State University campuses will now have more classes available to them than previously expected, thanks to $50.9 million in one-time federal stimulus funds. This massive infusion of cash will definitely help close the budget deficit at each of the CSU campuses, but this will not be enough to close the gap. It will however provide CSU college students with an additional 8,000 courses for fall 2010 across all of the CSU schools. Many students who have been worried about getting into the classes they need to graduate, will now have a much better chance to make the progress they desire. Not only are students happy, but so are many college professors who now get to teach more classes for fall 2010.

The $50.9 million is the remaining money withheld from $76.5 million that the California State University system received for fall 2009 to add class for winter and spring terms. This tactic was used by the CSU Chancellor’s office because they knew that the budget issues were going to be a long term problem that they needed to plan ahead for, in order to combat it. However the one downside to this stimulus money is that it is only for fall 2010, and the CSU colleges will still have issues offering enough classes for winter and spring 2010. More details should come out this month which should give students a better idea of how the changes will benefit them. Thousands of spots for new students at CSU college in fall 2010 had been reduced, so it is unclear if those students who made other plans, will change their plans again. Below are some estimates of what some of the California State University schools will receives from the federal stimulus money.

California State University, Sacramento – $3 million

California State University, Long Beach – $3.7 million

California State University, Fresno – $2.9 million

California State University, San Bernardino – $2 million

San Jose State University – $3.1 million

Community colleges in California have had to deal with major budget cuts, which have forced many of the schools to completely cut some classes, or offer them fewer times each year. This has made it extremely difficult for students to get into the classes they need in order to graduate with their associates degree. In order to help more students complete their campus-based associates degree requirements, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office announced this week that they have teamed up with Kaplan University to allow students in California to enroll in single courses online. Another part of the agreement would permit graduates of California community colleges to transfer to Kaplan University if the want to complete their bachelor’s degree online for a reduced rate.

This opportunity is starting to look very attractive to many California community college students who are having difficulty furthering their education. There are only so many classes that will be approved by each of the 110 community colleges in California, but the overall addition of classes will be a tremendous help to thousands of students. The first part of the program, to help with the completion of an associate’s degree, is the Kaplan University Community College Connection program, and the second part is the Save My Credits Transfer program which helps with the bachelors degree completion. One of the other positive aspects to this relationship is the strengthening of the recognition for career colleges like Kaplan University which ensures that students can take the classes they need to graduate on time. It will be interesting to see how long this partnership lasts, and if more career colleges like Kaplan University will have the opportunity to help California community college students complete their degree.

Seniors Fei Li and Sunny Dhillon took a class in the fall quarter of 2009 which was taught by guest lecturer Serban Porumbescu of Tapulous and professor of computer science at UC Davis. This class gave them the knowledge needed to develop an iPhone application designed for the students of UC Davis called UCD Mobile, which puts UC Davis into the palm of any student’s hand.

UC Davis Students Unveil New Campus Based iPhone App

The creation of the UCD Mobile app for the iPhone is the type of tool that you should expect to see coming out for more California colleges in the near future as smart phone development becomes increasingly popular. UCD Mobile gives students a local bus schedules with GPS integration, college sports information, college email access, and a UC Davis map with walking directions. Soon you will be able to search for UC Davis class schedules and listen to the live stream of UCD’s student-run radio station. It is a one stop shop for UC Davis students to feel comfortable with the college and the city, so they can focus on learning and studying for classes.

California college students are very big users of smart phones and this type of campus centric app is just the type of thing that should become a standard for schools looking to attract students. Not only does it attract more students by catering to the younger generation, but it gives students a tool they can use throughout school to make them more efficient with their time. This application should also spark more students at UC Davis and other California colleges to take classes to learn how to develop apps so they can try and capitalize on the increasingly popular niche.

Budget cuts across the UC, CSU, and community college systems of California are causing numerous problems for the schools as they struggle to offer enough classes for students to graduate. There have already been a variety of classes being offered less often than expected, and when they are offered they might be full, which forces college students to wait until the next term. This scenario is even worse for students of City College of San Francisco, because the school decided to cancel their very popular summer session. The summer session at City College of San Francisco is typically a great time for students to catch up and take classes they could not attend during the normal school year. However, this last minute announcement has thrown the plans of many college students completely out of order as they now scramble to see if they can find any alternatives to City College of San Francisco in the area. Students either need to find another public community college in the area, or perhaps find a private school that has the classes needed for their degree. Even if students seek this solution, it can be tricky to take classes at different schools as not everything transfers and may not be applicable to the degree one is trying to secure.

Now the City College of San Francisco has made hundreds of college students extremely angry as they just want to attend class and further their education. Without a degree, these students cannot graduate and become bigger contributors to the economy, which is what California truly needs to get out of the budget crisis. Cutting money is a great tactic, but it does not serve the longer term issue, which is that we need more educated people in California so that the workforce is more qualified and we can generate more money for the state. California is bigger than many countries in terms of size and revenue, therefore we need serious leadership that can correct the mess we’re in so our college students can take classes when they need them. This statewide problem needs to be fixed soon, or students will have to shun public colleges for those private schools which actually have the classes a student needs to take for their degree.

USC football has had a rough month with former head coach Pete Carroll leaving to go become the new head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. However things seem to be turning around as USC secured former Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin, who has previous experience working with the organization from 2001-2006. National signing day was also a huge success yesterday for USC as Seantrel Henderson, the nation’s top high school offensive lineman, announced his commitment to go to the Trojans by wearing a hat and team jersey. Residents of Southern California, and students at the college are very excited about the possible new addition to their football team. Unfortunately everything is not official just yet, as Henderson has not signed his letter of intent for USC as of now. Since USC is under investigation by the N.C.A.A. for infractions, the Henderson family wants to wait until USC meets with the N.C.A.A. infraction committee starting on February 19th.

Hopefully things go well and USC will have this amazing player in their football lineup next season, but only if the N.C.A.A. infraction committee meetings go well. Henderson is also seriously considering a few other colleges like Ohio State, Miami, and Notre Dame. These schools still have a glimmer of hope if something goes bad for USC, and Henderson decides to sing his letter of intent with one of the other colleges he is considering. Not only is Henderson a spectacular football player in the offensive lineman position, he also is considered by many analysts to be the top high school recruits of the year. So far Henderson and his family appear to be getting along with new coach Kiffin, which is a very positive sign as California residents wait to see if he signs his letter of intent for USC.