Tag: paying for college


Less than half of recent grads ‘strongly agree’ college was worth the cost

Posted on September 30th, 2015

We write a lot about the importance to maximizing the return on investment of your college degree before, during and after college.

Unfortunately, the majority of recent college graduates don’t ‘strongly agree’ that their college experience was worth its high cost–most likely because they had to take out large student loans to help pay for it.

According to Forbes, a recent Gallup-Purdue Index study surveyed 30,000 recent college graduates and found that only half said that they “strongly agree” that their diploma was worth the money they paid to obtain it.

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Tips for taking out student loans

Posted on September 24th, 2015

"Every dollar for student loans is a dollar less for other priorities like buying a car, buying a house, getting married, having children." -- Mark Kantrowitz

The average college graduate now leaves school with $30,000 in student debt, and the national student debt total of $1.3 trillion is rising every day. Many prospective college students don’t realize the huge impact student debt can have on their lives–and how much compound interest can add up over time, resulting in a much larger […]

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VICE News asks: Why is college so expensive?

Posted on September 13th, 2015

"It’s more important than ever for students to make an intentional choice about where they’re going to school and what they’re majoring in." -- Dale J. Stephens

Why is college so expensive? Is it worth the investment? VICE News recently aired a segment on the rising cost of college and asked a panel and viewers those questions, among others about the increase in student debt and how different college degrees affect future earnings. Is college worth the cost? The panel included Student Voice’s […]

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The biggest misconception about community college

Posted on September 9th, 2015

"Community college is not a second-class education. It's a first-class opportunity." -- Isa Adney

We write a lot about the benefits of starting your bachelor’s degree at a community college to save money on your degree. Unfortunately, many students and families mistakenly believe community colleges are subpar to 4-year schools. They assume the classes are easier, and the education they provide is somehow less rigorous or prestigious than those offered at […]

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The cost of a college education

Posted on August 14th, 2015

How much does college cost? Why is it so expensive? Where does all that money go?

Forbes recently interviewed prospective and current college students to find out their thoughts on rising college costs and whether they think the cost is worth it. Watch the video to hear their thoughts, and let us know what you think.

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Most college freshmen underestimate student debt

Posted on June 16th, 2015

"College students do not have a firm grasp on their financial positions, including both the price they are paying for matriculation and the debt they are accruing." -- Elizabeth Akers and Matthew Chingos

When most students enter college, student debt is a far thing from their minds. They’re more likely to be concerned with classes, making friends, and adjusting to a new place. Since most students enter college as young adults, it’s difficult for many to grasp how student loans work and the consequences of taking them out. But […]

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Minorities and poor college students have the most student debt

Posted on May 22nd, 2015

"We have created a system in which more underrepresented students take on debt and drop out with debt, thereby saddling communities of color and those with modest means with substantial disadvantages as they enter the workforce." -- Mark Huelsman

Need-based financial aid, particularly in the form of Pell grants, is designed to make college more affordable for low-income students who may not otherwise be able to attend college. But a new study, as reported by the Washington Post, finds that the students who need financial aid the most are the ones who end up with the most […]

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College financial aid letters leave students, parents confused

Posted on May 12th, 2015

"Knowing exactly how much college is going to cost should be as simple as knowing how many calories there are in a slice of bread." -- Al Franken (D-Minnesota)

A recent article from the Hechinger Report addresses a problem many of our clients face: confusing financial aid award letters from colleges. Full of technical jargon, abbreviations and often misleading information, many letters leave families unsure of how much college will actually cost, which makes it difficult to compare letters from different schools. Financial aid ‘awards’ […]

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Parent PLUS loan reform reduces number of black college students

Posted on May 4th, 2015

A few years ago, the government reformed its Parent PLUS loan program and tightened credit standards for issuing loans to parents to help pay for college.

While this reform may have reduced predatory lending, it may have had an unintended negative consequence as well: reducing the number of black students in college, according to a new report from Hechinger Report.

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Catholic colleges increasingly out of reach for poor students

Posted on April 27th, 2015

"It’s disturbing that institutions give money in these very difficult times to students who don’t need it and don’t focus their resources on those who absolutely need it the most." -- Kati Haycock

One of the main tenants of Roman Catholicism is to help the poor, but a new study finds Catholic colleges and universities in the U.S. are doing a poor job. The New America Foundation found that five of the 10 most expensive private universities for low-income students, and 10 of the top 28, are Catholic. […]

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