You’ve received your financial aid award letters from several colleges and you’re trying to compare them to see which one is best for you. In most financial aid packages, there will be a mix of public and institutional grants, loans, and maybe even scholarships....
5 Tips for a Great Freshman Year of College
If you’re about to start your freshman year of college, congratulations for making it this far. Your friends and relatives are probably giving you all kinds of college advice from back in the day when they were in your shoes. How do you sort out what’s relevant from...
Senior Year: A Strong Finish Is a Smart Finish
Imagine being told that you have won admission to one of your top choice colleges, an elite school where you will have the opportunity to mingle with influential people and have great job prospects when you graduate. You completed your FAFSA and have a great financial...
Understanding Student Loans
The Institute for College Access and Success reported in 2015 that nearly 70% of college graduates had student loan debt. As you struggle through the mountain of paperwork required just to get in to college, the subject of student loans can seem confusing. Here’s the...
Want to Know How Much College Really Costs?
When most people think of the cost of college, astronomical numbers pop into their heads. For example, how much do you think it costs to attend Harvard? I bet the number that came to your mind is likely in the range of $50,000 to $100,000 per year. If that was the...
Best Ways to Save and Manage Your Money in College
If your child is preparing to head off to college in the fall, there are some important financial considerations. Teenagers have little idea about how to save money unless they have been brought up with a strong background in money management. Most will spend...
Free College: How Free is It?
There’s a lot of buzz lately about New York and free college. A program recently passed through the New York legislature, which provides free tuition for attendees of the state’s public colleges and universities. Some people are calling it a breakthrough and saying...
Tips and Tricks to Trim Your Tuition Bill
High school seniors and their families have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of college acceptance letters. These letters should come as a huge relief, defining what the future entails. Instead, students and their families are left dealing with the financial aid...
College Debt: Worth the Hassle?
Higher education in America is no small expense. In fact, the dollar amount on a post-secondary education is high enough to dissuade thousands of people from enrolling. In many cases, however, the actual value of continuing an education far outweighs the initial costs...
Prepaid Tuition or College Savings – What’s the Best 529 Savings Plan?
If you’ve researched college savings plans, you’ve likely come across the 529 savings plan. All 50 states sponsor this plan, which IRS codes authorize by Section 529. What you may not know is that two plans fall under the 529 umbrella – a college savings plan and a...