Financial Aid

The average amount a college-bound student borrowed from private lenders increased over 40% from $6,630 in 2022 to $9,337 in 2023. As college students turn to private student loans at increasing rates, it’s important to understand how to choose a private student loan. Consider these seven factors to help…

Each year, billions of dollars in federal financial aid are left unclaimed by American families who don’t fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). In 2022, 23% of families skipped the FAFSA® simply because they didn’t have enough information to complete it.  The FAFSA®…

In the 2022-2023 school year, 41% of American families did some type of borrowing to afford their child’s college education. So, if student loans will be a piece of your family’s financial aid picture, you’re not alone. Just keep in mind that interest charges mean loans can come…

For many college students, there’s a gap between how much a degree costs and what they can afford. In the 2021-2022 academic year, 41% of American families participated in some type of borrowing to close this gap. Once you’ve maxed out your other financial aid, you may need to…

Financial planning and literacy are important skills for any adult to have in their toolkit – yet they’re ones that aren’t always taught in American schools. A recent study found that 32% of U.S. teens don’t understand basic financial concepts, like the difference between a debit and credit card.

Adjusted for inflation, a year of college cost $4,300 in 1963. Today, that same year will cost you over $14,000. The more tuition costs rise, the more necessary it becomes to start saving for college as early as possible. Opening a 529 college savings plan can be a great…

Paying for college is a complex puzzle for most families. Over 40% use borrowed funds, and 70% report making lifestyle changes to tuck away extra cash for higher education. Regardless of your personal finances, a creative approach can help lower costly tuition bills. Chances are you’ve considered federal…

If you’ve been granted a federal work-study award, your part-time employment could earn you more than just a few extra dollars. For some college students, a part-time job can actually improve focus, lead to higher grades, and teach valuable life skills that can’t be learned in a classroom. Plus,…

If you finally received your Student Aid Report (SAR) after filing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), you should have a good idea of how much the government expects your family to contribute to your college education. And you’ll know this based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)…

Due to the rising costs of higher education, more and more Americans are turning to student loans. In fact, student loan debt has tripled over the past fifteen years—climbing to almost $1.7 trillion dollars in 2023. This staggering number has sparked many philosophical and economic debates. But for…

Being a parent is one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs out there. Children require love, time, patience –– not to mention a lot of financial resources. And that’s especially true as the cost of college has risen by an average of 78% over the past twenty years. If…

Now that you’ve completed your FAFSA® and received your financial aid offer, you might feel a little disappointed. Maybe the school you had your heart set on has only offered you a little bit of aid. Or maybe there’s a small but significant gap between your cost of attendance and…

Even if you’re proud of your child for getting into college, you might not be thrilled about the idea of paying for it. Understandably, some parents feel guilty about not wanting to foot the bill for their kid’s bachelor’s degree. And while many parents help their child pay for school…

Receiving your financial aid award letter can be an exciting time when you’re prepping for college. You can see how much financial aid you’re eligible to receive per college you’re accepted to. But it can also be confusing – what do the numbers mean? What is the financial aid award…

Increasingly, the “9-to-5” doesn’t represent the landscape of American jobs. Over 10% of the American working population is self-employed, and 16% report working on some sort of freelance or online gig job. But these “unusual” job setups can make it complicated to…

Our team knows the FAFSA®–and the common mistakes made on it. Over the last 3 years, we’ve helped thousands of students fill out the form (using our FAFSA® Made Easier), and walked countless confused parents through how to correctly report their complicated home/financial situation. Here are the…