Student loan balances have increased nearly 150% in last decade

Posted on September 5th, 2017

"In most cases, higher education is worth the investment because student loans pay off in the form of higher income over time. However, it's especially important for young people to understand the terms of their loans." -- Rod Griffin, director of public education at Experian

Student loan debt has hit $1.4 trillion nationally, and there aren’t many positive signs that it will decrease anytime soon. Over the last 10 years, student loan balances in the United States have increased more than $833 billion — a jump of nearly 150 percent, CNBC reports. Record student debt for borrowers The average student […]

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How much public college tuition costs have risen by state

Posted on August 28th, 2017

With college as expensive as it is now, public colleges have been touted as a good alternative for students looking to limit college costs.

But, like private colleges, tuition at public colleges across the country has risen rapidly over the past ten years.

Between 2008 and 2017, the average cost of attending a four-year public college went up in every state, even adjusting for inflation, according to a recent report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, as reported by MarketWatch.

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Tips For Off-Campus Students Commuting To College

Posted on August 18th, 2017

Living off-campus and commuting to college can be a great way to save on college costs.

But it’s not always the most ideal for making new friends. One of the downsides of commuting is missing out on the college dorm experience, which facilitates many friendships.

Commuting also comes with some expenses and inconveniences, such as dealing with traffic, extra time spent in the car and transportation costs.

Luckily, there are still plenty of ways to make friends even if you’re not living on campus and reduce the hassle and expense of commuting to college. We’ve put together a list of tips on making commuting to college easier.

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College tuition hikes are (finally) slowing down

Posted on July 28th, 2017

It seems there’s a light at the end of the college cost tunnel.

While college costs are higher than they’ve ever been (and continuing to rise), the yearly increases are, finally, slowing down, according to new data from the Labor Department.

The department found that over the past 12 months, tuition rose by just 1.9 percent–the lowest rate since before 2007, StudentLoanHero notes.

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2017-18 Excelsior Scholarship Program Deadline Approaching

Posted on July 10th, 2017

If you want to have a chance at receiving free tuition at a SUNY or CUNY college this fall through New York’s free college program, you’d better get moving.

The deadline to apply for the Excelsior Scholarship is July 21, 2017, so you must apply by then in order to be eligible.

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Most private colleges opt out of New York’s free tuition program

Posted on June 27th, 2017

There’s been plenty of talk (and controversy) over the Excelsior Scholarship program, which will provide students in New York from families under specific income levels with free tuition at state public colleges.

One new aspect of the new free college initiative that’s been overlooked by many is the Enhanced Tuition Awards Program, which provides up to $6,000 for students who choose to attend private colleges instead of one of the state’s SUNY or CUNY colleges.

But it hasn’t been all smooth-sailing for this program, either. In fact, a majority of the state’s private colleges are choosing not to participate, The Journal News reports.

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Tips On Paying Off Student Debt While Saving For Retirement

Posted on May 17th, 2017

Student debt continues to be a major issue for college students and graduates in the U.S.

U.S. total student debt is now over $1.4 trillion, and the average debt for a college graduate in 2016 was $37,000. And 44 million Americans now have student debt to their name.

The video below gives tips on how student loan borrowers can avoid falling behind on their payments. It also explains why millennials should be saving for retirement even if they have student debt.

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New York’s Free College Program May Be Lottery-Based

Posted on May 11th, 2017

When the Excelsior Scholarship Program was announced, many believed it meant that the majority of students in New York state would now be able to attend college for free.

That’s not entirely the case, as we explain in our recent post about the program. And more details have emerged that should give pause to students and families depending on this program.

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What you need to know about New York’s Excelsior Scholarship Program

Posted on April 24th, 2017

Many of our clients have been asking about the new Excelsior Scholarship program, which will provide free tuition at in-state public colleges for New York state students if their family meets certain income requirements.

While it may sound too good to be true, there are a lot of important details and things you need to keep in mind when considering the program. Read these important FAQs about the program, and contact us if you want personalized help figuring out whether it is a good option for your family.

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Student Loan Refinancing Companies: Credible

Posted on April 17th, 2017

The second post in our student loan refinancing companies series focuses on Credible, a student loan refinancing marketplace that gives you access to multiple lenders with just one application.

Credible doesn’t do any lending itself, but rather aggregates personalized offers from different lenders, including banks and online companies. This allows you to apply for refinancing with multiple lenders all in one place.

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