• Save Money: Dig into Financial Aid

    Save Money: Dig into Financial Aid

    College admissions decisions are arriving – a joyous time for students relishing their success. A disappointing moment when dream schools say no. No matter which, these emotions will soon be overrun by the reality of making a school choice. And then figuring out how to pay the coming college bill. Lurking under it all: how much student loan debt will…

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  • The Facts, Not the Hype, about Student Loan Forgiveness

    The Facts, Not the Hype, about Student Loan Forgiveness

    Student loan forgiveness is a hot topic. Here are six facts to help you make sure you don’t get burned by the hype around loan forgiveness. Know the facts now to avoid taking a loan expecting that it will be forgiven only to find out that you don’t qualify after making ten years of payments.  

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  • Tuition Payment Plans – Hidden Gems to Pay for College

    Tuition Payment Plans – Hidden Gems to Pay for College

    Most families know that there are many ways to pay for college: savings, loans, grants, scholarships, financial aid, gifts from friends and family, income from a job, etc. Sometimes overlooked is a hidden gem that could reduce student borrowing and the total cost of paying for college: tuition payment plans. 

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  • Use 529 Savings for Pre-College Schooling, Student Loans, and Apprenticeships

    Use 529 Savings for Pre-College Schooling, Student Loans, and Apprenticeships

    In the 1990s, Congress passed legislation to create 529 college savings programs to help families create a nest egg for college. With terrific tax benefits and lots of flexibility to move money among beneficiaries, more than 13 million current account holders have saved more than $325 billion.  

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  • What you need to know about student loans and credit scores

    What you need to know about student loans and credit scores

    With more than $1.5 trillion of student loan debt outstanding, a lot has been written about student loans. Not much has been written about the relationship between student loans and credit scores.

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  • 3 Tips for Smart Student Loan Borrowing

    3 Tips for Smart Student Loan Borrowing

    When it comes to paying for college, the process can seem overwhelming. There are so many financing options out there and you might be feeling lost about how to choose the correct ones for your family. The key is to equip yourself with information so that you can have the knowledge you need to make…

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  • The $64,000 Question: How Much Does College Really Cost?

    The $64,000 Question: How Much Does College Really Cost?

    When you buy expensive things — a TV, a car, a house –, you most likely take more and more time to carefully consider the risks, rewards, and probable outcomes associated with the purchase as the price increases. No one wants to waste hard-earned money. In addition to knowing the purchase price, you will likely…

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  • A Guide to Free College Money and Less Student Loan Debt

    A Guide to Free College Money and Less Student Loan Debt

    This recent article “Dos and Don’ts For College Scholarships” talked about free money for college such as grants and scholarships, and offered general tips on how to search for free money.

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  • Take the first step to win the financial aid game

    Take the first step to win the financial aid game

    That sounds odd, doesn’t it, “to win the financial aid game.”  You don’t have to stretch very far to see that the financial aid process has characteristics of a game: there is a rulebook, a referee (the U.S. Department of Education), a defined time period and rewards at the end for the winners.  Unfortunately, as…

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