It’s Never Too Early (or Late) to Plan for College Costs

After talking with News10 Sacramento this morning about financial aid and paying for college, thought I’d share a few additional tips and expand on a few points we discussed: Understanding the Family’s Finances: The more parents can understand the family finances, the better planning can take place for the additional expense of college tuition.  Some…

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What Trends in Public University Tuition Means for College Bound Seniors

Public universities and colleges are partially funded by student tuition and partially by state and local government revenues (i.e. taxes collected), alongside subsidies by the Federal government and private donations.  Public funding is then allocated per full time student, as shown in the map below. Alaska contributes the most per student at $14,837, while the…

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College (Un)Affordability: Real, Perceived or A Little of Both?

We’ve been hearing questions from increasing numbers of families about paying for college, as we also posted earlier.  Many of the families asking questions are professionals, college educated, with two incomes and making the same dollar figure of salary as past years, but find these same dollars aren’t stretching as far as in the past.…

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Affording College Expenses = Planning, Planning and More Planning

Many families believe their income is too high to qualify for any financial aid, so begin making alternative plans to pay for college, and don’t complete the required forms to apply for financial aid–including the FAFSA.  Regardless of the family’s perception or stories they’ve heard about other people’s experiences, always fill out the FAFSA.  Let…

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No Free Lunch: A Student Loan Borrower’s Tale

My student loans were just paid-off this year–13 years after I first assumed them**.  I originally borrowed $18,500 to pay for graduate school, plus a $740 loan origination fee.  I ended up repaying about $29,500, which includes interest and principal–approximately $10,260 was paid in interest alone. I’m not particularly attentive to my expenses or money…

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The Six Figure Cost of College: In Dollars & Sense

The words, “financial aid,” can send chills down any parent’s spine, as they wonder, “How in the (insert expletive) are they going to pay for college, without going bankrupt?”  Many American families approach college, like other purchases in their lives–dream big and figure out how to pay later.    Parents often believe, “If my kid…

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Transfer Admissions from a California Community College: Bargain or Cost?

Several changes to California Community College policies in the current 2012-13 school year may affect the typical transfer student who chooses community college, by extending the total number of semesters before transfer to a 4 year university. The typical transfer student is usually qualified for 4 year college admissions, yet “doesn’t know what s/he wants…

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