These days, it's truly impossible to get through college without a computer of your own. And while the computer that you buy will come stocked with plenty of software - it might not be the college software you need to sail through your classes and complete your projects. But before you plunk down hundreds from your financial aid on educational software for college at one of the "big box" stores, there are a few unexpected places you can find discount college software - and a few tips to help you save big so you won't blow your budget in one fell swoop.



Where to Shop for Discount College Software

I know a lot of people think that their college bookstores have high prices, but if you look around, in most cases you'll find that they're actually reasonable - if not downright low. And from my days as a university bookstore manager at a Follett store, I can tell you that all of their stores offer amazing discounts on software for college students.

And just to prove the point - I went to my alma mater's (Elmhurst College) online Follett store and found Adobe Creative Suite 3 for just under $400. At one of those "big box" store's sites it was selling for well more than $1,000 which, if you need this college software - is a HUGE savings.

Obviously, places like eBay and Craigslist are also good options when it comes to shopping for educational software for college, but given that the sellers at those places aren't held to the same standards as professional retail locations or sites, you do run the risk of getting scammed when you buy your college software from listings there.

Tips for Saving Money on College Software

When you're looking for software for college students, keep in mind than many retailers offer student or educator discounts. So if you can prove that you're a student, you may be able to get your software for less than the price listed on the package.

A few other ideas to help you save money on educational software for college students include:

"Using freeware or shareware for things like games, spyware removal and anti-virus protection. All of these things can help you save money so you can spend what you have on the college software you really need.

"Some textbooks come with software for college students, so be sure to give it a try before you decide to purchase something that may be redundant.

"If your parents have software that offers several licenses for the same household, ask them if you can use one of their licenses to install the software on your computer.

With so many options available to students looking for discount software for college, there's absolutely no reason to pay full price. So hit your college bookstore and check out the freeware sites and start saving money for things you'll need later (like proper meals).