Unprepared For College Tuition?

by PrimeWay
College Tuition

If you have a child who will be entering into the college world next year, you may be questioning how you’re going to pay for it.

It may sound like a cliché, but now is a time to focus on the positive. Your child is college-bound. She has the ambition, intelligence, and drive to do something with her life. First, take a moment and celebrate that little victory, then take a deep breath and know that the financial side will work itself out.  

Before you begin planning your course of action, get a realistic estimate of costs. The College Board maintains a resource called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculator. Using this tool, enter your income, savings, and the number of people in your household. At the end of this, you'll get a dollar amount showing how much the federal government expects you to pay. You can use this number as a target for how much you'll have to come up with each year.

Next, have a conversation with your child, so you can determine a course of action together. Once you have a good understanding of realistic costs, it's time to start planning. Here are a couple of options to consider as you and your child are planning the next steps.
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1. Choose flexible schools  

Encourage your child to apply to and visit a few schools where he or she would feel comfortable attending. The quality of instruction is similar among many colleges and universities; what's different is the environment. What makes your student most comfortable: a small, liberal arts school or a big state school? There are many in both categories at all points on the cost continuum.

If your child is reluctant to consider schools that don't have an elite price tag, you might want to frame the concern with future debt. Encourage them to think about the next five to ten years of their life, rather than just the next four.

2. Take a look at loans and Financial Aid  

If you have nothing saved for college, then you'll likely have to borrow funds to support college tuition. The college for which you’re applying can help you determine what financial aid you might qualify for. It’s also important for your child to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which requires your income and savings information, as soon as possible. This will give you a good idea of what type of assistance you qualify for. Depending on your family’s income level, you may qualify for federal grants that don’t need to be paid back. The results of FAFSA will also help your child make an informed decision about which school to attend.

As far as loans, the federal government sets a cap on how much they will lend to students, based on EFC, or estimated family contribution. These loans have quite favorable rates and good repayment terms that will help young people stay out of trouble.
Unprepared For College Tuition?

If you have a child who will be entering into the college world next year, you may be questioning how you’re going to pay for it.

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Outside of a mortgage, a student loan is the safest investment you can make. The earning potential of college graduates is significantly higher than a high school graduate. There's no need to be stressed about borrowing to pay for school. Just use it responsibly. You will need to repay all that money whether there is a degree at the end of the adventure or not. Borrow only the amount you need vs. the full amount for which you’re eligible.

In our next post, we’ll delve into some unconventional ideas that you and your child might consider to help cover college tuition and expenses. Good luck and congratulations!

Author Bio

PrimeWay

Since 1937, PrimeWay Federal Credit Union has been a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing superior financial services to members in the Houston area. We offer more personalized services than you'll traditionally find at more conventional financial institutions. Our hallmarks are low interest rate loans, higher dividends on deposits and excellent member services.

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