Tag: choosing a college


President Obama proposes free community college plan

Posted on January 9th, 2015

We’ve touted community college as a way to significantly reduce college costs, by transferring to a 4-year college after two years to earn your bachelor’s degree.

And a new proposal President Obama announced today makes community college an even more financially responsible option. The plan, called “America’s College Promise,” would make two years of community college free for eligible students of all ages.

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The best college values under $30,000/year

Posted on December 19th, 2014

With the cost of college topping $60,000 at some schools, it may seem impossible for regular families to afford higher education.

But there are still plenty of quality colleges for half the cost. Kiplinger recently released a list of the best value colleges that still cost under $30,000 per year, all of which provide a great bang for your tuition buck.

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The states with the most & least student debt

Posted on December 2nd, 2014

Students are graduating college with more debt than ever before, with the average college graduate leaving school with $28,400 in student loans.

But in some states, students are graduating with debt levels much higher than that, with debt in 6 states topping $30,000.

A new report from The Institute for College Access & Success’ Project on Student Debt shows that average student debt varies widely by state, ranging from $18,656 to as much as $32,795 per student.

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Calculating the value of college majors

Posted on November 24th, 2014

We’ve expressed that the value of your college degree is influenced heavily by several factors, including choice of major and how much debt you take on to pay for it.

And now a new calculator from The Hamilton Project makes it easier for college-bound students to understand how much their degrees will cost them over time depending on major, student loan debt, interest rates, and term of the loan.

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The 20 Smartest Public Colleges In America

Posted on November 5th, 2014

With some private college prices topping $60,000 per year, it’s no wonder that more students are considering lower-cost public colleges as an alternative.

According to US News & World Report, the average cost of attending an in-state public school is $8,500 per year, compared to the average annual private school cost of $30,500 — a difference of $22,000 a year.

But choosing a public college doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality. Many public colleges are just as competitive as private colleges–at a significantly lower price point.

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Evaluate return on investment when choosing a college

Posted on November 3rd, 2014

"Parents realize the economy hasn't changed much in the past six years, and they're shopping for college like they would any other major product. This isn't an emotional transaction anymore." -- CFG Co-founder Andy Leardini

With the cost of college rising, more parents are beginning to look at the return on investment of where they send their children to college and evaluating whether schools are worth their high costs. As College Financing Group co-founder Andy Leardini told Buffalo Business First in a recent article, the college decision has become like […]

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The 10 colleges with the lowest out-of-state tuition

Posted on October 9th, 2014

If you’re looking to go out of state for college but don’t want to spend the money on a private college, considering some low-cost public colleges is a great idea. Depending on where you live, you may find that these colleges are even cheaper than a public college in your own state.

Check out the list below from U.S. News for the top 10 colleges in the United States with the lowest tuition for out-of-state students. They may not be as well-known as some of the bigger-name schools, but they can provide a quality education at an affordable price.

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CFG founders give advice to families paying for college

Posted on October 8th, 2014

"You need to treat choosing a college like a business transaction, not an emotional transaction." -- CFG Co-founder Andy Leardini

As parents of college-bound students know, applying to college is more than a financial decision–it’s an emotional one as well. Our founders Rick Ross and Andy Leardini recently appeared on Winging it! Buffalo Style to discuss the challenges families and students face when choosing a college and figuring out how to pay for it. Taking the emotion […]

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Fall College Planning For High School Seniors

Posted on September 25th, 2014

If you’re a high school senior, fall can be a busy time.

Between gathering teachers’ recommendations, writing essays, and trying to boost your SAT/ACT score and G.P.A. one last time, the college application process can leave many students overwhelmed.

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The economic value of college majors

Posted on September 12th, 2014

"Today’s college students, then, need to choose a major that maximizes their chances of graduating, and minimizes their chances of ending up in that bottom 25 percent, where they would have been better off skipping college, at least financially." -- Ben Casselman

While the return on value of a college degree is at an all-time high, according to a recent analysis by FiveThirtyEight, not all degrees are created equal. As we’ve written, the return on investment of a college degree depends on many factors, including the field of study, student’s debt level, and what the graduate does with […]

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