In This Chapter

There was a time when savvy consumers earned ticket after ticket on their favorite airline by exploiting the ins and outs of mileage programs. Heck, I remember one guy who earned a handful of free tickets on American Airlines simply by buying Kellogg’s cereal every time it went on sale.

Well, many of those globe-trotting mileage hunters have gotten the travel bug out of their systems, have settled down and had kids, and are now facing a new challenge. Instead of worrying about first-class upgrades, they’re scrambling to pay tuition. Thankfully, old habits die hard and these resourceful folks are proving that you can earn just as much free tuition as you could frequent flyer miles.

In this chapter, we look at the new programs that have developed to reward the shopping habits of parents and students with tuition dollars. Further, I point out some of the top tips and tricks to get the most out of these programs. By harnessing the power of these programs, you can easily begin racking up $500 to $1,000 per year toward your tuition bill or to help pay off existing student loans.