Tag: paying for college


Podcast: How do colleges award financial aid?

Posted on March 14th, 2014

"What are schools’ priorities? When they pick who gets financial aid from the institution and who doesn’t or who gets more and who gets less, they’re actually choosing winners and losers. And we want to better understand that." -- Marian Wang

How do colleges decide which students should receive financial aid and how much they should receive? Despite the increase in colleges using net price calculators and other reforms to make the process more transparent, financial aid remains a mystery to parents and students–it’s still a “apply, wait and see” type of game. Now, colleges are […]

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The wrong reason to go to college

Posted on February 26th, 2014

We’ve discussed the benefits of attending college at length, but we’re always quick to point out that even though college degrees are a good investment in your future, it doesn’t mean they’re worth going hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt for.

This funny video from YouTube personality Ryan Higa shows the downsides of college for many students and graduates: underemployment, massive student loan debt, stress, and studying subjects that don’t apply to your future career.

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Only 150 of 3500 U.S. colleges worth the investment, says former Secretary of Education

Posted on February 25th, 2014

"We have about 21 million people in higher education, and about half the people who start four year colleges don’t finish. Those who do finish, who graduated in 2011 - half were either unemployed or radically underemployed and in debt." -- William Bennett

It’s no secret that college is a huge investment in your future, and costs are rising at most colleges and universities. With the price so high and student loan debt increasing, it’s never been more important to be careful how you spend your college dollars. But which colleges pay off? Are 96% of U.S. colleges […]

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6 stats that prove college is worth the investment

Posted on February 20th, 2014

With college being such a huge investment, it’s natural to question whether it’s worth the money–or whether you’re better off just working and saving thousands or hundreds of thousands on a degree.

Of course, the value of a college degree can vary depending on college, cost, major, and what the student actually does with the degree. Still, research backs up the claim that college is worth the investment.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be smart about how you spend your college dollars, but these statistics clearly prove that getting your Bachelor’s degree is a smart investment in your future.

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Why attending your safety school may be a smart idea

Posted on February 18th, 2014

We see a lot of students get their heart set on one particular college, only to end up disappointed when they realize they can’t afford it.

As much as parents may try to reason with starry-eyed students, it can be difficult for 17- and 18-year-olds to understand the long-term impact of significant college debt.

This infographic from Affordable Online Colleges shows the benefits of looking beyond your dream school and remembering that prestige isn’t everything when it comes to choosing a college.

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9 Reasons To Work With A Financial Aid Consultant

Posted on February 11th, 2014

Whether you or your child is preparing for college or already enrolled, your family can benefit from working with a financial aid consultant to save time and money on college.

Here are 9 reasons you should consider working with a financial aid consultant.

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SUNY colleges offer a great value in public education

Posted on January 24th, 2014

Looking for an affordable college? Check out some of the schools in the State University of New York (SUNY) system.

Even if you don’t live in New York state, these colleges offer a great value for your tuition dollar.

In fact, nine SUNY schools made Kiplinger’s 2014 list of ”Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges.” Read on to find out which other schools made the list of affordable, quality schools for both in- and out-of-state students.

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How to find scholarships to pay for college

Posted on January 20th, 2014

When applying for college, it can be overwhelming to figure out how you’re going to afford a 4-year degree.

One of the best things you can do to help pay for college is to be diligent in your search for grants and scholarships.

Check out some of these top scholarship search engines that make it easier to find free money for college.

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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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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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