This isn't really tricks or cheats but ways to exploit some aspects of university. :)
To get money I have my uni students apply for extra funds at the administration building. When I play a young adult sim that I plan to send to uni I move them onto a blank lot. (When they get back from 2 two-week sessions at uni they have enough money for a nice home and to invest in a partnership.) Before going to uni I use town edit to edit the uni world - 1. putting book cases with skill books in the library and 2. redoing a house for them to rent or redoing the dorm I want them in by putting in a comfortable bed, better quality shower, stove, TV, etc.
Because a sim must wait until 24 hours after receiving their last extra funds I send them to apply the first time as soon as they arrive at uni. Since the amount of money a sim receives is dependent on their GPA I spend effort getting their grades as high as I can. Each time a sim goes to uni they start out with a C, worth $2,500. By the time they take their final on Friday they have earned an A, worth $5000. Sims can not raise their grade until after they start their first class Monday and they cannot raise their grade after the final. The grade remains constant during that time so I do not waste time studying or doing anything to try to raise their grade on the weekends. That's party time. I send my sims for 2 weeks at a time. That weekend between they can collect their $5000 every 24 hours because the A they earned with the finals on Friday does not start to decay until classes start again the next Monday.
There are several ways to raise their grades.
1. Go to class. I usually have them suck up to the professor so they become good friends. But my sims often don't go to their Tue and Thur classes since there are better ways to raise their grades especially when the class is held outside in the middle of a snow storm or downpour.
2. Study. I don't waste time doing that since there are better ways to raise their grade.
3. Work with their curriculum object. I usually don't do that either for the same reason.
4. There are several skills and/or activities that can be done to raise their grade for each curriculum. For example why study or work with the anatomy skeleton in the rain when physical education majors can just pump iron in the convenience of their dorm. Not only does it raise their grade but it increases their athletic skill. Some grades are raised by doing the activity. Some are only raised when the skill is leveled up.
The first few days (Mon-Wed) I work extra hard bringing their grades up so it doesn't take much to maintain them. For some majors this often includes reading the skill books in the library - charisma for business majors, gardening for science majors, cooking for fine arts (if cooking is their emphasis otherwise they paint on the easel in their private room or play guitar). Technology majors usually end up upgrading all the plumbing to self-cleaning and/or playing chess. Communication majors write books and athletic education majors pump iron. Not only are sims raising their grades but they are increasing their skills too. Also at the beginning of their first week I often send them to skill classes.
Another advantage to working on their skills and raising their grades is the opportunity to earn a lot of happiness reward points.
By the time my sims are back home from uni on that first Sunday evening they have a comfortable house, steady investment income, a good start on their career (because of their degree), 25 acquaintances and usually the attractive reward so every sim they meet in town becomes an instant friend, developed skills, and are ready to start their life in a new town.