Are colleges adequately preparing graduates to enter the workforce? Why are so many college graduates unemployed? Is online education as effective as traditional in-person classes? A new survey from Northeastern University attempts to answer those questions and more. College graduates not ready for a career The study revealed that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the higher […]
With college graduates entering a still-shaky economy, graduates’ salaries are becoming an increasingly important metric in the college ranking game. But is there too much of a focus on future pay and not enough on the quality of education colleges offer?
This summer, college students and their parents narrowly avoided a student loan interest rate hike that would have raised interest rates on new subsidized Stafford loans from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. The deal set Federal Stafford Loans for undergraduates at 3.85%, Graduate PLUS loans at 5.4%, and Parent PLUS loans at 6.4%.
While college-bound students and their families breathed a collective sigh of relief, the deal came with a catch: student loan interest rates would be tied to the health of the economy. If the economy improves as economists predict, rates would increase in coming years. In fact, rates would likely climb higher than they were this past spring.
For families who have saved for college with a 529 plan, the new deal presents an interesting conundrum. Should you use the funds in your account now to pay for your student’s education or save them for the future, when it might be more expensive to borrow?
When deciding whether a college’s price tag is worth the investment, it’s important to consider your major and career aspirations. While no major can guarantee financial success, a recent study from Georgetown University found that your college major can significantly impact your future earning potential.
We don’t recommend choosing your college major based on average salary alone, but it’s certainly something you should consider when deciding whether to take out student loans to pay for college and how much debt you can handle.
President Obama’s recent signing of the bill to keep student loan interest rates low is a move in the right direction toward helping students afford college. But as we’ve discussed, it’s not enough. In the video below from Democracy Now, Rolling Stone editor Matt Taibbi discusses how the high price of U.S. college tuition is the real […]
Ever wondered how today’s college graduates (and their student loan debt loads) compare to those of previous generations? This infographic from Manilla explores how tuition, college fees, and student loan debt have skyrocketed since today’s graduates’ grandparents went to school. Even adjusting for inflation, the cost of college, particularly at private universities, has gotten out of […]
If you recently graduated college, remember that your grace period doesn’t last forever. Come fall, 2013 college graduates will start receiving student loan bills from their lenders.
The Buffalo News offers some great tips on paying back your student loans and outlines the different types of repayment programs.
The cost of college has risen all over the country, and schools in our home of Western New York have not been an exception.
Check out this video from WGRZ to learn about the cost of higher education in the Western New York region and how President Obama will address the issue in his visit to the area later this week.
Learning how to manage your finances early on in college can save you time, stress, and money later. And it’s the best way to prepare for unexpected college costs–such as a once-in-a-lifetime study abroad opportunity or that tropical Spring Break vacation you want to take with your roomies.
As the weak economy continues to impact how Americans spend their money, parents are putting less toward their children’s college education than in previous years. Parents put an average of $5,727 from their income and savings toward each child’s college costs in the 2012-2013 academic year, down more than a third from $8,752 in 2009-2010.