In general, two-year and community colleges are a smart way to land some hefty college savings. According to the College Board, a student at a public two-year college pays, on average, approximately one-third in tuition and fees of what an in-state student at a public four-year school pays. While the vast majority of two-year students do pay substantially less than their four-year counterparts, there are exceptions. Using data from the Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Center and updating it with more recent net price figures, we’ve determined that these two-year schools have the highest net prices.

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Many high school advisers and parents encourage high school students to go to the best college they can get into. For many, that means striving for Ivy League schools, even though the competition is fierce to get into those schools.

A recent report on CNN Money found that those top schools now cost more than $50,000 for room and board for one year. Planning to go to Darthmouth? That will set you or your child back nearly $58,000 a year, or $232,000 for a four year education, not factoring in yearly tuition increases. How is that for sticker shock? To put it in perspective, according to the U.S. Census, the median home price in the United States in 2010 was $221,000. A Dartmouth education will cost you as much as a home.

Is it worth it?

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You don’t have to go into debt to land a great job. Apprenticeship programs provide workers with classroom and on the job training while earning a paycheck. According to the Department of Labor, apprenticeships are available in more than 1,000 career fields and most can be completed in four years or less. Here are the five most popular apprenticeships according to the federal Office of Apprenticeships.

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Winter break is your last chance to fatten your wallet before the holidays. Luckily, hiring is up for seasonal help says Courtney Moyer, public relations manager at Snagajob.com, a job posting site for hourly and part-time positions. Snagajob research shows that 24 percent more managers will make seasonal hires this year over last year with the average winter job paying $10.70 hourly. That means opportunities abound if you act fast.

Check out these five great winter break gigs.

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Unless you want to take out thousands of dollars in student loans, college can seem out of reach. Tuition rates continue to rise faster than inflation, yet college is still a good investment. According to a research study by researchers at Georgetown, those with a high school degree only earn $1.3 million over their career lifetime, while those with a bachelor’s average $2.2 million and those with a Ph.D. earn $3.6 million. A nearly one million dollar difference in earnings between those with a high school degree and those with a bachelor’s degree make college an attractive option despite the cost.

However, if you are creative, you can get your degree without paying a fortune or taking out thousands of dollars of loans.

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With the cost of college on the rise, many parents and students are looking for ways to help defray the costs with financial aid. From loans with low interest rates, to scholarships and grants, student aid can be a big deal. However, many schools are giving out less aid; your options are becoming scarce.

Unfortunately, what you do now can make a big difference later. If you have a student getting ready to go to college in the next few years, watch out for these surprising mistakes that can harm the chances of financial aid.

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Some may say that there is no way to completely prepare for having a baby, but there is plenty you can do to make the path as smooth as possible financially for baby’s arrival. (I can’t help you with the sleepless nights except to tell you that eventually, though not as soon as you would like, you will be able to sleep through the night again!)

According to the USDA, a child born in 2010 will cost $226,920 to raise to the age of 17. That number doesn’t even include college expenses! Even if you take measures to cut costs, raising a child is still an expensive proposition. Ideally, your preparation should begin before baby is even conceived.

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Back to school is well underway, and some college students are on campus and ready to get on with the semester. As you send your college student off, it is tempting to provide him or her with everything necessary to live comfortably. Indeed, it’s easy to go overboard with what you buy for your college student.

Before you shell out for your student’s needs, consider these 5 items he or she won’t actually need this fall:

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