Sallie Mae and Gallup just released the results of a survey of how American families save for college. The survey found that most parents are continuing to save for college despite the economy and that saving for college slightly trails saving for retirement. More than 9 in 10 of the parents (92%) think that it is likely or very likely that ...

As soon as a student begins their college search process, they meet their biggest adversary: money. Unfortunately, money only complicates things for students searching for the perfect school. Throw in words like "unsubsidized Stafford loan" and they're ready to quit college before it even starts. However, Kantrowitz has a great way of simplifying federal loan programs for students. The Stafford Loan ...

Have you ever received a financial aid question from a question that you just didn't know? Wish you had a nationally recognized expert in your phone book? Now, you can have one at your fingertips: meet Mark Kantrowitz (if you haven't met him already). Mark is a frequent financial aid contributor to The New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, ...

Join us on November 12, from 10 AM to 10 PM (Eastern) for EducationXpo! EducationXpo, the premier online college fair, offers potential students of all ages access to the essentials involved in the college planning process. Talk live with admissions experts, take virtual campus tours, get financial aid information and more – 100% FREE online! Register NOW at www.educationxpo.com and follow ...

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the stimulus bill, includes major increases in student aid funding for the 2009-10 academic year. It includes the largest dollar increase ever in the maximum Pell Grant and significantly expands the Hope Scholarship tax credit. It also increases funding for the Federal Work-Study and AmeriCorps programs. The legislation was signed ...

There are many ways in which grandparents can help their grandchildren pay for a college education. These include legacy scholarships and tuition assistance programs, educational awards for volunteering and community service, college savings plans and direct gifts. Scholarships for Grandchildren Very few scholarships are based on a grandparent's affiliations. There are many more awards based on a parent's affiliations. However, sometimes ...

This year more than ever, the economy is making it more difficult for families to pay for college. The number of financial aid applications is up more than 10% over last year. Lenders are suspending loan programs and tightening credit standards. Families are concerned -- really concerned -- about obtaining loans and paying for college. Add in the possibility of job ...

The United States is home to the world’s most expensive higher education system. So says the College Board, an educational testing and services group. That probably doesn’t surprise you, especially if you are among those paying or preparing to pay the average of $5,800 a year in tuition to attend a four-year public university. (That figure skyrockets to an average of ...

Though federal student loans (such as the Federal Stafford Loan) help many students to attend college, families often find that even the maximum loan amounts are not enough to pay for their education. For instance, the average cost of attendance at a four-year public school today is $12,796 and at a four-year private school, it’s $30,367— yet the most money first-year ...

We asked FastWeb members whether they would consider staying in their home state after graduation if it meant they wouldn't have to pay back their student loans and here's what they had to say: "I definitely would stay in my home state for loan forgiveness. I have personally already been a college graduate for a year and see this as ...

Short on funds shouldn't mean you're short on brains. Don't be that guy who has to admit, "I was young; I needed the money." True: being a college student means making mistakes, but in these financial times, there are some lessons it's better not to have to learn the hard way. No matter how bad it gets, making one of these ...

Student aid policy experts have argued for years that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is too long and too complicated. The FAFSA form is a source of confusion and frustration for many families. The policy experts have proven that the current process of applying for financial aid is itself a problem that prevents millions of students from applying ...

You're about to have a baby and you're already worrying about how to pay for their college education. Or your son or daughter just started high school and you read about some private colleges costing more than $50,000 a year. How are you going to be able to afford four years of a college education? Don't panic! The solution is to ...

The US Department of Agriculture estimates that middle-income two-parent families will spend $221,190 in 2008 dollars to raise a child born in 2008 from birth to high school graduation. The cost per child for low income families (earning less than $56,870) is $159,870 and the cost per child for upper income families (earning more than $98,470) is $366,660. These estimates do ...

Students, you and your parents are so focused on the standard college questions – what school, what degree, how to pay for it – that you overlook the elephant in the room. An Elephant in the room? Yes, the educational Elephant who can cost you and your families thousands of dollars, unnecessarily. Here’s where the elephant raises his costly tusks. You ...

The US House of Representatives passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 (SAFRA) on September 17, 2009 by a party-line vote of 253 to 171. This legislation eliminates the federally-guaranteed student loan program and replaces it with 100% direct lending from the federal government. SAFRA uses the savings to fund an increase in the Pell Grant program among ...

The New York Times reported on October 5, 2009 that 16 of the 18 state prepaid tuition plans are facing funding shortfalls because of a combination of stock market losses and increases in tuition at public colleges. Only five state plans are backed by the full faith and credit of the state. While the other states will be under political pressure ...