Tag: paying for college


5 ways to reduce college costs while kids are still in high school

Posted on September 18th, 2014

Reducing college costs doesn’t just happen once the kids have already been accepted. Planning early is the best way to reduce your college costs later on.

In this video from THV11 News, Little Rock Family Magazine editor Heather Bennett shares her five best to reduce college costs while your student is still in high school.

Check out our tips and watch the video to find out more.

Continue Reading »


Purdue president calls on colleges to reduce costs

Posted on August 25th, 2014

"Instead of asking our students' families to adjust their budgets to our spending, let's try to adjust our spending to their budgets for a while." -- Mitch Daniels

College costs have gotten out of control, but rarely do you hear a college administrator take responsibility for rising costs. Instead, they announce tuition increases with promises that they’ve “increased financial aid.” But Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University, isn’t like most college administrators. In a recent appearance on CNBC, he blamed colleges themselves for […]

Continue Reading »


Parents paying kids’ student loans while putting off retirement savings

Posted on August 22nd, 2014

With the average student debt load rising for college graduates, it’s not surprising that many parents feel obligated to help pay their kids’ student loans to prevent them from falling behind.

According to a survey of 5,000 Americans released Thursday by Citizens Financial Group, as reported by MarketWatch, 94% of parents of college students ages 18 to 24 say they think their personal burden for their kids’ college student loan debt is increasing.

Continue Reading »


College costs have risen less than you think

Posted on August 11th, 2014

"Every measure shows costs increasing to some degree, but it’s clear that government’s measure follows the path of published prices. In reality, college tuition has risen less than half as much in the last two decades as the official data suggest." -- David Leonhardt

The general consensus among the public is that the cost of college has risen dramatically over the past few decades. We’ve reported how much the rise in college tuition has outpaced gas, cars and any other household item that the government tracks. According to the government, college tuition and fees have risen a shocking 107 percent since […]

Continue Reading »


These 5 states have the best colleges for your money

Posted on August 6th, 2014

We recently wrote about a new set of college rankings based on which colleges provide the best value for your money.

A few states dominated the list and were home to several colleges that provide students with a great bang for their tuition buck. Watch the video to find out what they were.

Continue Reading »


Should you use your full 529 fund to pay for college?

Posted on August 2nd, 2014

With the cost of college rising, many parents are turning to 529 plans to pay for their future children’s college tuition.

These plans allow families to put away money tax-free for future use. Like a 401K or IRA, funds are invested in mutual funds or similar investments.

When your child finally reaches college age, many parents wonder if they should put their entire 529 savings toward their student’s first year of tuition or save some for future years in order to allow the fund to grow even more.

Continue Reading »


The best colleges for your money

Posted on July 29th, 2014

There’s no perfect method for ranking colleges, and every media organization that releases a list has its own standards and criteria.

We tend to focus on lists that take a college’s value compared to its cost into account and which colleges leave their graduates with little student debt.

That’s why we’re intrigued–and a little surprised–at these latest rankings from Time Money. The newsmagazine recently ranked 1,500 four-year colleges by which colleges offer the most bang for your tuition buck.

Continue Reading »


7 ways to reduce college costs

Posted on July 23rd, 2014

"You may not have any spare jewels lying around to pay for Junior's higher ed. (No, gumball rings don't count.) But if you're willing to get creative and consider alternative approaches, you can cut some or even all the big expenses." -- Lou Carlozo

College costs are rising, but it doesn’t mean there’s no way to avoid taking out excessive student debt in order to finance your education. Here are 7 ways to reduce college costs from the Christian Science Monitor.  1. Attend a zero-tuition college Believe it or not, there are still a few colleges that charge nothing […]

Continue Reading »


The calls for free college are getting louder

Posted on July 22nd, 2014

"The people who are struggling to pay for college today go way beyond poor people. There’s a need for a universal program." -- Sara Goldrick-Rab

With college costs reaching record levels and still rising, the idea of free college might sound like a pipe dream. Some colleges offer free tuition to the very top students, but these scholarships are extremely competitive. And even with financial aid, most students usually end up paying large amounts for college and taking out student loans. […]

Continue Reading »


Cost of college tops $60,000 at 50 colleges

Posted on July 11th, 2014

It’s no secret that college tuition has risen dramatically over the past two decades. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2013–2014 school year was $30,094 at private colleges.

But the news that 50 colleges now charge more than $60,000 per year, according to Business Insider, makes that $30,000 bill look like a bargain.

Continue Reading »