[tolbish]

I suppose you might live in the dorm your freshman year, but there is no reason why you need to take the most expensive housing. I paid $600 a month for my place my last 2 years of undergrad, and I would just take a few loans and/or a job.

[whymauri]

Moving out is a popular and valid option, especially with how expensive on-campus meals are. Even if you move out, the school will still calculate a 1098-T based on the total cost of attendance (it might be possible to go out of your way to decline part of your scholarship, but I have no idea how this works). But yes, moving out is a way to save money (but some of that money just funnels back into paying a tax liability, lol).