A Parent's Guide
to Paying for College
Paying your child’s college bills doesn’t have to be difficult or devastating as long as you learn the rules and use common sense.
Financial Aid 101
What Is Financial Aid Anyway?
FAFSA, Stafford, EFC, PLUS. Colleges seem to speak a foreign language when the subject turns to money, but the basics are simple.
How the Financial Aid System Fails Students
Money for college is hard to find and isn't keeping up with rising costs.
Competition Is Tough: Tips for Winning More Aid
If you think getting accepted was hard, try paying tuition in this credit crunch.
Savings
Grow Your Savings with a 529 Plan or Prepaid Tuition
Your college money can grow and compound tax free.
FREE MONEY: GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Paying for Graduate School: Grants and Scholarships
Getting Free Money for Your Child
Grants, also called scholarships or gift aid, are the best kind of financial aid because you don't have to pay them back. Here's where to look for help.
Where Those Grants and Scholarships Come From
The government, schools, and charities all offer free money.
Rankings
Loans
Paying for Graduate School: Loans
Getting a Loan Might Be a Struggle
Lenders are getting pickier about whom they give to.
Three Types of Loans for Parents
Borrowing should be one of the last options parents turn to when facing college bills. But used in moderation, parental loans can help smooth a child’s path through college and into a career.
Be Skeptical of Some Advice Out There
That information online might not be as unbiased as it appears.
Should You Lend to Your Child?
It's risky, but a new service might make it easier to get paid back.
Budgeting
Tackling That Bill in Eight Simple Steps
Many financial advisers say one way to reduce the pain of college bills is to tackle that cost bit by bit.
