Tools to help families plan for college
Search colleges, find scholarships, estimate financial aid, and navigate loan options — all in one place.
Recent articles
529 Plans: A Bad Name for a Great Way to Save for College ... and More
In the 1990s, Congress started 529 college savings programs to help families create a nest egg for college. Although marketers would surely advise against naming a program after a section of the tax code, Section 529 in this case, "529s" grew into a preferred way of saving for college. And now the 529s can be used for more than just paying for college.
Beyond Tuition: How to Manage Other College Costs
College costs continue to rise, and if you're concerned with how you're going to pay for it, you're certainly not alone. Understanding the total cost of college, not just the tuition, and how to manage those costs is important.
4 Easy Ways to Boost Education Savings this Holiday Season
It's never too early or too late to save for college and other education expenses using 529 savings programs. Here are four tips to add a little holiday cheer to your 529 savings accounts.
College Majors and Return on Investment
As college costs increase and student debt rises, you are likely thinking about your return on investment in college and asking if it is worth going to college.
The Difference Between Consolidating and Refinancing
Picking a student loan that meets your needs requires an understanding of some basic concepts. Student Loan Basics empowers you with information to make informed choices to borrow for college and manage the debt after college.
Choosing Between Federal and Private Student Loans
Picking a student loan that meets your needs requires an understanding of some basic concepts. Student Loan Basics empowers you with information to make informed choices to borrow for college. This article explains the difference between undergraduate federal and private loans.
Federal Student Loans -- Still the Best Deal for Undergrads
Interest rates have increased noticeably over the past year, which means that Federal student loan interest rates will climb as well. When? By how much? Will the rate on this loan increase more in the future? Is there a better option for undergraduate students to borrow for college?
Help Me Understand Financial Aid
Paying for college can be overwhelming. Knowing the options and identifying sources of money for your family to pay the college bill is half the battle and there's no time like the new year to get a handle on the details, especially with financial aid season on the horizon.
Increasing ROI on Your Investment in College
Calculating a precise Return on Investment (ROI) of a college degree is less important than taking actions that will result in better returns. We can put the calculator away and think simply about how to increase the Return on Investment for education.
Parents: Know the College Admissions Timeline
The college admissions process can be tricky for any family, especially those going through it for the first time. Separate financial aid and admissions applications, multiple deadlines at each school, standardized exams, letters of recommendation, required essays, and, this year, changes to federal financial aid. No wonder you feel stress.
Left on the Table: The Saga of Unclaimed Pell Grant and Scholarship Money
Consider the tried-and-true axiom for the lottery: "You need to be in it to win it". Well, when it comes to applying for federal financial aid, nearly two million high school students annually are deciding not to play the game whatsoever, a decision that is costing almost half of them the chance for some much-needed assistance in the form of free money.
Planning for College: Where to Start
The path to affording college feels overwhelming for most families — but a few grounded steps go a long way. This starter article points you at the questions worth asking early, from how much you'll actually owe to which aid you're leaving on the table.
Saving for Higher Education is Better than Borrowing
There is no magic, one-size fits all way to pay for college. The trick is finding what works best for your family.
The Student Aid Index: The New Way to Calculate College Aid
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is about to fundamentally change how eligibility for college financial aid is calculated. Here's what you need to know and a link to a free calculator to estimate eligibility for college aid using the new methodology.
Student Loans and Credit Score
With more than $1.7 trillion of student loan debt outstanding, but not a lot has been written about student loans. Not much has been written about the relationship between student loans and credit scores.
Student Loans Can Help Build Strong Credit Scores
College students and graduates can use student loans to build a great credit score. These three steps will help you understand the credit scoring process and how student loans can help young consumers build a high credit score and open opportunities for future borrowing.
The Ripple Effect: Understanding How Student Loans Impact Your Student's Credit Score
For many students, pursuing higher education is a worthwhile investment in their future. However, this pursuit often comes with the financial burden of student loans. Beyond the immediate challenges of repayment, it's crucial for parents and students to understand how these loans can have a lasting impact on students' credit scores.
Understanding and Appealing Financial Aid Award Letters
For gardeners, April showers bring May flowers. For high school seniors, the bloom may already be off the rose. The joy of getting college acceptance letters often quickly fades as the reality of comparing colleges and determining "the one" comes into focus.
What to Know about the FAFSA Form: Current & Future
This article will tell you why filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is important no matter what your family income may be, discuss the Academic Year 2023-2024 FAFSA form, and outline the likely changes to the FAFSA form to be used in 2024-25.
