<p>Another option is to take a semester off somewhere in the middle. I did that. I took the spring of my junior year off for an extended spring-summer internship and graduated with my class (in 7 semesters). I also used some of that time off to catch up on a bunch of research. This might be a good option if your concerns are purely financial.</p>
<p>Also, financial aid awards can change dramatically over 4 years. My freshman and sophomore years were financially difficult. Then MIT changed their financial aid policy, and I paid almost nothing for my junior and senior years.</p>