Tag: affording college


How to find scholarships to pay for college

Posted on January 20th, 2014

When applying for college, it can be overwhelming to figure out how you’re going to afford a 4-year degree.

One of the best things you can do to help pay for college is to be diligent in your search for grants and scholarships.

Check out some of these top scholarship search engines that make it easier to find free money for college.

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Find a free FAFSA event in your area

Posted on January 15th, 2014

Need help filling out your FAFSA? There’s likely a FAFSA filing event happening near you in the next couple of months.

Check out this map and click on your state for a list of locations, dates, and times for events happening in your state.

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Fighting the college affordability crisis

Posted on January 13th, 2014

"With the volume of student loan debt at over $1 trillion and counting, degrees must become significantly more affordable, very soon, or too many Americans will lack the means or the motivation to pursue a degree at all." -- Scott Kinney

With student debt topping $1 trillion, the question of whether college is “worth it” has become an increasingly valid one. While there are several advantages to having a college degree, it’s clear that the cost issue needs to be addressed. In a Hechinger Report Op-Ed, Capella University President Scott Kinney even worries that fewer students […]

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Many private student loan borrowers are leaving money on the table

Posted on January 12th, 2014

Compared to private student loans, whose interest rates vary depending on the borrower’s credit history, federal student loans are a steal. But according to USA Today, a large percentage of private loan borrowers don’t maximize their borrowing of federal student loans.

In fact, the newspaper found that more than half of private loan borrowers failed to max out on federal student loans, and a quarter didn’t take out any federal loans.

This is quite alarming and demonstrates the need for education about the differences between federal and private student loans. Unlike federal student loans, private student loans can have variable interest rates, some greater than 18%. This substantially increase the total amount you repay.

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Why you should work with a financial aid consultant

Posted on January 10th, 2014

During the college admissions process, the cost of standardized testing, test prep services, college applications, and college visits can really add up.

And that’s before you even start thinking about paying for major expenses like college tuition, fees, textbooks, room, and board.

With college such an expensive investment, you may be wondering why anyone would pay someone just to help them figure out how to pay for it.

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10 ways to get colleges to show you the money

Posted on January 7th, 2014

With the cost of college reaching as much as $63,200 at the nation’s most expensive college, Sarah Lawrence, getting financial aid has become a necessity for most families and students.

There are several steps families can take to maximize their financial aid package in order to make college more affordable.

According to U.S. News Education, here’s how to get colleges to show you the money.

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8 things to remember about the FAFSA & Financial Aid

Posted on January 6th, 2014

Getting ready to go to college or have a child who is? It’s time to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Many parents and students have misconceptions about what the FAFSA is and who should fill it out. Some families don’t bother because they assume they make too much money to qualify for federal aid.

But confusion about the FAFSA can cost you–you may lose out on financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and student loans.

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Is college worth the cost?

Posted on January 5th, 2014

"In a world where about half of humans live on less than $2.50 a day, the opportunity to learn and study in a formal, dedicated way is still a gift, even if it has become a very expensive one." -- John Green

As we’ve written in the past, the high cost of college has many people questioning whether attending is worth all of the debt and time that could be spent working and making money. With the rise of MOOCs and other forms of online education, some have argued that a formal college education is no longer […]

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Which colleges meet 100% of your financial need?

Posted on December 27th, 2013

When applying to college, it’s important to be aware of which colleges will meet your family’s financial need.

Knowing which colleges are generous with need-based financial aid and scholarships can save you time and money during the college admissions process. It can help you avoid applying to colleges that don’t offer much in the way or need-based or merit aid.

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How to fill out the FAFSA

Posted on December 26th, 2013

January 1 is quickly approaching–are you ready to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?

This video from the U.S. Department of Education tells you everything you need to know about preparing for and filling out the FAFSA.

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