Paying for College

A college education is one of the most significant investments you will make in your lifetime and one of the most important decisions in the life of you and your child. Here are several tools to help you make informed and educated decisions about selecting a college and how to pay for it.

Choosing the Right College for You
Which school is the best for your child? Which one has the strongest program for the major your child is considering? Here are tools for figuring out what are the important considerations for you and your family when selecting a college or university.

College Rankings U.S. News and World Report has been ranking colleges according to several major criteria for years.
http://www.usnews.com/rankings

College Matchmaker This tool looks at several criteria, including location, major, budget, etc., to help you find the college that best matches your needs.
http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/adv_typeofschool.jsp

The Cost of College
What does a college education cost? Do you qualify for any financial aid? How should you save for college? These tools may help you figure it out.

College Financing Calculator
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/add-it-up/401.html

Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
"Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded financial assistance for education beyond high school."
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Saving for College
Here is a list of important considerations when it comes to saving for college.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/money101/lesson11/