How to Save Money on Your Bachelor's Degree

You can save thousands of dollars by doing the first two years of your bachelor's degree at NHCC

Source: 2024-25 tuition rates reported on university websites.

Starting at NHCC vs. Starting at a University 

You can save thousands of dollars on tuition if you do your first two years at NHCC and then transfer to a university to complete your bachelor's degree. It's just simple math. 

First two years at NHCC (less expensive) + two years at a university (more expensive) vs. four years at a university (most expensive). 

The difference is how much you can save.  

Let's Look at an Example 

Here's an example of how much you could save on tuition alone if you did the first half of your bachelor's at NHCC vs. the University of Minnesota. 

First half of bachelor's degree (60 credits) at North Hennepin: 

• 60 (credits at NHCC) x $210.86 = $12,651 (Tuition cost with no grants or scholarships)
  • Yay, you're halfway to your bachelor's and you have your associate degree!
  • Next step: transfer to a university to get your bachelor's degree (and pay higher tuition).

First half of bachelor's degree (60 credits) at U of M: 

• 60 (credits at U of M) x $582 = $34,020 (Tuition cost with no grants or scholarships)
  • No associate degree at the halfway point.
  • You still need 60 more credits for your bachelor's. 

Amount you would save: $21,369

Get Your Degree at the Halfway Point

When you start at NHCC and get your AA or AS degree and then transfer to get a bachelor's degree, you have your associate degree at the halfway point to your bachelor's. 

If you go to a university, you only have credits at the halfway point.

Starting at NHCC, you would be able to use your associate degree to improve your career while you finish your bachelor's degree. If you have to take a break before finishing your bachelor's, you'd have your associate degree.