Tag: college costs


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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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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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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How 5 students are getting into college–and paying for it

Posted on December 17th, 2013

December is a stressful time for college-bound students and their parents. With the pressure to finish up scholarship and college applications, along with the impending doom of paying for it all, students and families’ anxiety can really build up.

Hechinger Report recently took a look at five students and their families to learn how they’re navigating the college admissions process, dealing with the pressure and stress of applying, and figuring out how to pay for college.

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Grad tells students to drop out, go to community college

Posted on December 11th, 2013

"At the freshman and sophomore level of classes, the quality of education per dollar at a community college is superior to any other institution. After two years, work hard, and you can get into your dream university while saving $40k. Your transcript will look the same at the end of four years, I promise." -- Peter Thayer

Do you want to graduate from the school of your dreams without going thousands of dollars into debt? Start your degree at a community college, urges one University of Rochester graduate student. In an article he wrote for his college newspaper and in the video above, grad student Peter Thayer recommends that college freshmen drop out and […]

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The value of the liberal arts

Posted on December 9th, 2013

"After a semester or a year, students discover fields they never even knew existed—anthropology, sociology, linguistics, sustainable development—and a good number change course...I tell them that what matters most in college is not what they major in, but that they find something they love—something they can imagine doing for a lifetime." -- Justin Snider

In an era of high college costs, it’s more important than ever to carefully consider your college major and future earnings before taking out thousands of dollars in student loans. With the cost of college on the rise and increasing student debt, many people have started to question whether majoring in a liberal arts discipline–which […]

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