Articles on the Cost of College, Paying for College, and Making Your Degree More Affordable

Note: As is true in other segments of this list of pieces, none of these articles are by me. You should not take them as the only possible paths to managing your college costs and maximizing the value of your degree. Speak with your financial aid office, your high-school counselor, and/or experts in college finance for advice that is tailored to your particular needs.​​

• “13 Ways to Reduce the Cost of College Even if Your Kid Isn't the Valedictorian,” FinanceBuzz: Apr 4, 2023.

• April Madness: How To Decipher College Financial Aid Letters Note: A relatively detailed piece that may help you analyze your college financial aid package.

• “What Is The Pell Grant Lifetime Limit?" | Bankrate: Mar 29, 2023. Note: Read this thoroughly and follow the various instructions it points to in order to get a sense for this.

• “How To Afford Out-Of-State Tuition,” Bankrate: Mar 28, 2023.
  Note: A useful read for anyone interested in study far from home—particularly on public campuses, there is also limited information on paying for private colleges.

• “An Inside Look at College Financial Aid Letters" – TheStreet: Mar 26, 2023. Note: This is a must read for people trying to determine which college is making the best offer.

• “Follow this rule of thumb to avoid taking on too much student debt,” CNBC: Mar 24, 2023.

• “Does The GI Bill Cover College?" | Bankrate: Mar 18, 2023. Note: Yes, but there are some limits. Read on to learn what it will and won’t pay for.

• “What Is Income-Contingent Repayment?" | Bankrate: March 18, 2023. Note: Read this for a description of the extremely wide variety of loans that can be subject to this way of
  paying down principle.

• “How to understand your college financial aid award letter,” CNBC: March 18, 2023. Note: Financial aid awards are notoriously difficult to understand. This piece may help some.

• “8 Common FAFSA Mistakes And How To Avoid Them,” CNBC: Mar 17, 2023. Note: Lots of good advice here, the key point being, make sure to fill it out!

• “University of Arizona hikes tuition by 3% for incoming students,” Washington Examiner: March 14, 2023. Note: Not all tuition raises are 3% this is worth reading if you’re thinking about getting a degree in Arizona.

• “Report: Alabama college students spend among the most in the country for education,” al.com: Mar 13, 2023. Note: an interesting article though discussion of net price to students would have been useful.

• “There Is No Constituency That Really Wants To Lower College Prices,” Forbes: Mar 4, 2023.Note: An interesting if somewhat disturbing read.

• “10 Best Scholarship Websites for College in 2023,” Money: Feb 28, 2023. Note: They are certainly good sites. Whether they are “best” or not is ultimately up to you.

• “Top money hacks to get more college financial aid,” CNBC: Feb 27, 2023. Note: Good advice here for people who need more money to make a degree work for them financially.

• “How To Switch To A STEM Career" | Bankrate: Feb 24, 2023. Note: Many STEM careers pay well but often require training. Read this to see how you can pay for it

• “Pros And Cons Of Private Student Loans" | Bankrate: Feb 24, 2023. Note: Lots of useful advice on private and public loans here. Well worth the read if you need them.

• "How To Consolidate Student Loans" | Bankrate: Feb 24, 2023. Note: consolidation is a process some people who have Federal student loans can benefit from. Read
  this to learn more.

• “4 Myths About College Scholarships That Could Cost You,” Money: Feb 9, 2023.
  Note: Everyone thinking about financial aid at any school should read this piece. All four myths trip people up at times.

• “How to Apply for the FAFSA: Step-by-Step Guide" | Money: Dec 22, 2023. Note: this guide is one of many (see below) on applying for the new FAFSA. Hopefully one of these will
  be helpful to you.

• “New FAFSA: What parents of college students need to know,” NerdWallet via The Morning Call: Dec 21, 2023. Note: Useful advice here.

• “Swimming Pools and Granite Countertops: How College Dorms Got So Expensive,” The Wall St. Journal: Dec 20, 2023. Note: Their survey only touches public universities but the figures are disturbing as are the choices students are forced to make as a result.

• “How To Assess College “Financial Fit” And Borrow Less For School,” Forbes: Dec 20, 2023.

• “FAFSA Opens Soon, Here Is What You Need To Know,” Forbes: Dec 20, 2023. Note: Highly recommend this piece. Lots of useful advice.

• “FAFSA 2024: How to apply for financial aid for college,” CNN: Dec 18, 2023. Note: This isn’t the first and won’t be the last but a helpful piece on the new FAFSA which you should fill
  out when it comes out.

• “How to fill out the CSS Profile for 2024-25,” BankRate: Dec 11, 2023. Note: for many schools filling this document out is as important as the FAFSA. Ask the colleges you’re looking at what documents you need to provide them for financial aid review.

• “Regents vote to hike higher ed tuition, increase salaries by 11%,” Nevada Current: Dec 1, 2023.

• “Should High-Income Families Fill Out The FAFSA?,” Forbes: Nov 28, 2023. Note: Useful advice here, encapsulated by the concept that its probably better to fill out your FAFSA
  than not in most circumstances.

• “Maine colleges aim to mitigate delays, confusion with rollout of simpler new FAFSA,” Maine Morning Star: Nov 21, 2023. Note: Check this out and then see if your campus (or prospective campuses) have similar efforts to help you with the rollout of the new FAFSA.

• “The Cost Of College Continues To Decline,” Forbes: Nov 21, 2023.
  Note: This, correctly, discusses the net price of college, not the posted price which is still rising in many cases.

• “Tuition increase announced in recent Board of Trustees meeting,” TCU 360: Nov 14, 2023.

• “When Is the FAFSA Available This Year? Nobody Knows,” Money: Nov 9, 2023.

• “College Tuition Prices Are Decreasing Due to Inflation,” Money: Nov 6, 2023. Note: Your experience may not match their statistics.

• “Do This Before the Redesigned 2024 FAFSA Launches in December,” NerdWallet: Aug 24, 2023 Note: Good advice here and some potentially useful pieces linked to at the end of the main story.

• [possible paywall] “25 Financial Tips for College Students,” The Wall St. Journal: Aug 14, 2023. Note: Journal readers offer some generally good hard earned advice, well worth the read if you can get access.

• [possible paywall]“Colleges Spend Like There’s No Tomorrow. ‘These Places Are Just Devouring Money.’,” The Wall St. Journal: Aug 10, 2023. Note: A fascinating study on why stated prices have gone up at public universities, particularly flagships.

• “3 things private student loans have that federal loans don't,” CBS News: Aug 8, 2023. Note: This is useful information but don’t act on it until you’ve read the article linked below.

• “College bills are due soon: Know the risks of private student loans,” CNBC: Aug 7, 2023.

• “FAFSA's getting simplified for the 2024-25 school year. What to expect,” USA Today: Aug 6, 2023. Note: Read this to get a sense for the potentially positive and possibly negative features of this change.

• [possible paywall] “7 Money Traps College Students Should Avoid,” The Wall St. Journal: : Aug 5, 2023. Note: From reading apartment leases carefully to building a budget and monitoring spending closely, lots of useful advice here.

• “How to Pay for College Without Student Loans,” Money: Aug 4, 2023. Note: Lots of useful, hard-headed advice here.

• “The ‘August surprise’: Half of colleges reduce their offers of financial aid when students win outside scholarships,” The Hechinger Report: Aug 2, 2023. Note: This is an essential issue to pay attention to. Once you’ve won admission somewhere ask them what their policy is on this.

• “How Harvard makes so much money — and why a major funding source could be at risk,” BusinessInsider: Jul 27, 2023. Note: Really interesting data on the breakdown of income sources for Harvard.

• “College Financial Aid: How to Negotiate Your Offer,” BusinessInsider: Jul 26, 2023. Note: Lots of useful information here though I would have published this in April or May.

• “Guide To Managing Money As A College Student" | Bankrate: Jul 22, 2023. Note: Definitely well worth reviewing for students and families alike.

• “What To Know About Student Loan Fees,” Bankrate: Jul 22, 2023. Note: A fairly short but useful and balanced read.

• [probable paywall] “The Sibling Discount Ends for College Financial Aid,” The Wall St. Journal: Jul 18, 2023. Note: This is super important for those with more than one child in college to learn about in preparation for the 2024-2025 academic year.

• “How to pay for college this fall" - CBS News: Jul 18, 2023. Note: Useful information here, this is well worth reading.

• “How much should you borrow with private student loans?" - CBS News: Jul 17, 2023. Note: Useful advice here.

• “4 Myths About College Costs" | Money: Jul 17, 2023. Note: Well worth a close read.

• “Why college is getting more expensive,” CNN Business: Jul 16, 2023. Note: Lots of useful perspective  and information in this piece.

• [possible paywall] “Avoid These Financial Missteps When Sending Children Off to College,” The Wall St. Journal: July 8, 2023.
  Note: a lot of useful advice here for parents and students alike.

• “Your Guide to Paying for College: The Role of Scholarships and Grants,” Entrepreneur: Jul 7, 2023.
  Note: There is a lot of useful information here, some positive, some a bit depressing.

• “Need-based financial aid: What it is and how to qualify,” The Orlando Sentinel: Jun 29, 2023.
  Note: A nice summary of options in this area.

• “Benefits of Federal Student Loans vs. Private Student Loans,” Money: Jun 29, 2023.

• “How To Snag Last-Minute Financial Aid For College,” Forbes: Jun 27, 2023.

• “Guide to College Grants and Scholarships" | Money: Jun 26, 2023.
  Note: a very useful piece to read if you are interested in financial aid.

• “How to Get a Student Loan,” Money: Jun 26, 2023. Note: Useful perspective on the process here.

• “Maximizing Financial Aid Under New Rules,” Forbes: Jun 26, 2023.
  Note: Really useful advice here.

• “What is the FAFSA? How to apply for federal college aid" | Fortune: Jun 24, 2023.
  Note: Useful advice here.

• [possible paywall] “One Way U.S. Students Can Save Money on College Tuition: Head to Europe,” the Wall St. Journal: Jun 24, 2023.
  Note: Read the article to learn about possible concerns and advantages of this strategy.

• “When should you apply for student loans?" - CBS News: Jun 23, 2023.
  Note: This advice is well worth reading and following.

• “Student Loan Interest Rates: Everything You Need to Know,” Money: Jun 23, 2023.
  Note: this resource is a very good start….and is part of an issue focused on college matters from money that you may want to find if you can.

• “10 Ways To Attend College For Free,” Bankrate: Jun 20, 2023.

• Note: In some cases free may not be possible but these ways can work to lower costs too.

• “Report finds 91% of colleges don’t report true cost" – NBC4 Washington: Jun 19, 2023.
  Note: This piece has useful perspective. It reminds of the GAO report linked here and elsewhere and its very concerning implications.“Financial Aid Offers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid,” U.S. GAO: released Dec 5, 2022.

• “The New Rules on Paying for College" - Consumer Reports: June 19, 2023.
  Note: A lot of helpful information on sources of funding (including emergency grants) all well worth reading.

• “How To Get Last-Minute Student Loans For College,” Forbes: Jun 19, 2023.

• “Parent PLUS Loans: A Guide to Helping Pay for College,” Money: Jun 13, 2023.
  Note: An informative survey of this method of paying for a child’s college.

• [possible paywall] “Subsidized vs. unsubsidized: What to know about Federal student loans,” USA Today: Jun 12, 2023.

• “Applying for a private student loan? Here's what experts say to look for" - CBS News: Jun 12, 2023.

• “Why does college tuition have so many extra fees?” Marketplace: Jun 9, 2023.
  Note: This has lots of useful info if you’re learning to deal with college bills.

• “Emergency Financial Aid For College Students,” Bankrate: Jun 9, 2023.

• “Student Loan Definitions: Terms To Know Before Applying For A Loan,” Bankrate: Jun 9, 2023.
  Note: Familiarity with these is important if you are applying for student loans.

• “Discount Rates At Colleges Continue To Increase As Colleges Explore Alternate Pricing Strategies,” Forbes: Jun 6, 2023.
  Note: This is a very useful read with a lot of excellent data!

• “How to save on taxes when paying for college,” CNBC: Jun 6, 2023.

• “As tuition continues to climb, these are the top tax breaks for college expenses,” CNBC: Apr 5, 2022.

• “When Is the FAFSA Deadline?” Money: Jun 5, 2023.
  Note: the take home is: deadlines vary but applying early in the cycle is best.

• “Don’t Get Scammed by College Scholarships,” American Enterprise Institute: May 30, 2023.
  Note: This piece has some wise advice included. Well worth a read.

• “Federal vs. private student loans: Which is better?" - CBS News: May 30, 2023.
  Note: Helpful info here if you’re thinking college or graduate/professional school.

• “Many companies offer tuition assistance for workers to go to college,” CNBC: May 26, 2023.

• “What's FAFSA? Why you need to know if you plan to go to college,” USA Today: May 25, 2023.
  Note: Lots of helpful advice here, not least of which is FILL IT OUT! If you can.

• “Students Basics for Financial Literacy - Affording Tuition,” Annuity.org: Apr 27, 2023.
  Note: Though largely helpful, this does not speak sufficiently to understanding and using net price calculators to determine your probable out-of-pocket cost of attending campuses you’re considering.

• “Athletic Scholarships Aren't Enough To Pay For College,” Forbes: May 22, 2023.
  Note: PARENTS, READ THIS ARTICLE! Fractional scholarships are a thing everywhere and are problematic for many students.

• “CSS Profile vs. FAFSA: What's The Difference?” Bankrate: May 17, 2023.
  Note: both forms of paperwork may be needed for financial aid at some colleges, FAFSA! Is needed everywhere! Read this to learn more.

• “Forget that $90,000 sticker price: College costs are actually going down,” The Hill: May 15, 2023.
  Note: This actually uses net price data so is credible in that respect.

• “College grants: What they are and where to find them,” BankRate: May 12, 2023.
  Note: This touches on many grant types and some of the restrictions associated with them.

• “Federal student loan interest rates rise to highest in a decade,” Politico: May 10, 2023.
  Note: I would never suggest avoiding one’s top choice school over this but it is important to be strategic to ensure ROI on your degree.

• “What Happens If Your Finances Change After College Decision Day?” Forbes: May 7, 2023.
  Note: A lot of potentially useful advice here should you need it.

• “How To Qualify For A Tuition Waiver,” Bankrate.
  Note: These aren’t accessible to everyone, read the Bankrate piece to get a sense for whether you might qualify.

• “How Much to Borrow for College? Experts Offer Hard Truths,” Money: May 5, 2023. Note: Some extremely wise advice here, particularly on the expected return on your investment.

• “Scholarships: Are They Tax-Free or Taxable?” Kiplinger: May 2, 2023.
  Note: Most scholarships are tax free but there are exceptions, read this to learn more.

• “Financial Aid Is Changing. How Will It Affect Your Family?” Forbes: May 1, 2023.
  Note: The author states many will benefit from a FAFSA redo but some may not. Read to learn more.

• “These colleges charge low-income students more than high-income ones,” USA Today: May 2, 2023.
  Note: It's rare, but this does happen. The resources the article includes can help you avoid this in your life.

• “It's just not fair: Why college tuition hike aimed at low-income students is hitting hard,” The Hechinger Report via USA Today: Mar 27, 2023.
  Note: See the Tuition Tracker in the resources section to see if your possible campuses are raising net prices for low income students more than for wealthier ones.

• [Possible Paywall]“California’s Housing Crisis Leaves College Students Eager to Live in Trailers,” WSJ: May 1, 2023.

• “How Much Can You Borrow In Student Loans?,” Bankrate: Apr 29, 2023. Note: Read for the limits on the various forms of student loans.

• “How to haggle with your college over financial aid" | CNN Business: Apr 29, 2023.
  Note: A helpful piece on this essential topic for someone needing to make a degree affordable.

• “Here’s how to decode your college financial aid package – MarketWatch” Apr 27, 2023.
  Note: Several other pieces on this topic are linked in this section of my resources page but this is a great start.

• “Subsidized Loans vs. Unsubsidized Loans: What's The Difference?,” CNBC: Apr 27, 2023.

• “How To Get In-State College Tuition,” Bankrate: Apr 27, 2023.
  Note: Some options do not lead to fully “in-state” tuition if you aren’t a resident but they are worth knowing about if in-state public colleges won’t work for you.

• “College Financial Aid Letters Hide the Real Cost of Attendance" – Bloomberg: Apr 27, 2023.
  Note: There are a number of pieces in this section that may help you better understand the offers you are receiving.

• “How to make sense of your college financial aid package - Chalkbeat Colorado”: Apr 25, 2023.
  Note: This is an incredibly helpful read for anyone trying to figure out financial aid offers.

• “Five Ways To Minimize Student Loan Debt,” Forbes: Apr 24, 2023.

• [possible paywall]“How to Negotiate a Better College Financial-Aid Package – The Wall St. Journal: April 23, 2023.
  Note: Good advice here.

• [Possible Paywall]“How to Budget As a College Student,” Buy Side from WSJ: Apr 23, 2023.

• [possible paywall] “Families Tap New Tools to Negotiate Lower College Tuition,” the Wall St. Journal: April 21, 2023.
  Note: Mentions a couple of resources that may be helpful in negotiating financial aid packages with colleges.

• “Yes, Colleges Really Can Cut Your Financial Aid if You Win Other Scholarships,” Money: April 20, 2023.
  Note: There are a lot of caveats to this, read the article for some of them.

• “How To Read Your Financial Aid Award Letter" | Bankrate: Apr 13, 2023.

• “The FAFSA is getting a makeover later this year—here's what's changing,” CNBC: Apr 11, 2023.
  Note: Anyone applying to, or in, college should be aware of these changes and when they go into effect.

• “Largest Source of Free Money for College Can’t Keep Up,” NerdWallet: Apr 11, 2023.
  Note: Any “free” money is worth getting if you can, so take advantage of Pell Grants if you qualify.

• “What Is Student Loan Deferment?" | Bankrate: Apr 10, 2023.
  Note: This opportunity can be very helpful under circumstances described in this article and online.

• “13 Ways to Reduce the Cost of College Even if Your Kid Isn't the Valedictorian,” FinanceBuzz: Apr 4, 2023.

• April Madness: How To Decipher College Financial Aid Letters
  Note: A relatively detailed piece that may help you analyze your college financial aid package.

• “What Is The Pell Grant Lifetime Limit? | Bankrate: Mar 29, 2023.
  Note: Read this thoroughly and follow the various instructions it points to in order to get a sense for this.

• “How To Afford Out-Of-State Tuition,” Bankrate: Mar 28, 2023.
  Note: A useful read for anyone interested in study far from home—particularly on public campuses. There is also limited information on paying for private colleges.

• “An Inside Look at College Financial Aid Letters – TheStreet: Mar 26, 2023.
  Note: This is a must read for people trying to determine which college is making the best offer.

• “Follow this rule of thumb to avoid taking on too much student debt,” CNBC: Mar 24, 2023.

• “Does The GI Bill Cover College?" | Bankrate: Mar 18, 2023. Note: Yes, but there are some limits. Read on to learn what it will and won’t pay for.

• “What Is Income-Contingent Repayment?" | Bankrate: March 18, 2023.
  Note: Read this for a description of the extremely wide variety of loans that can be subject to this way of paying down principle.

• “How to understand your college financial aid award letter,” CNBC: March 18, 2023.
  Note: Financial aid awards are notoriously difficult to understand. This piece may help some.

• “8 Common FAFSA Mistakes And How To Avoid Them,” CNBC: Mar 17, 2023.
  Note: Lots of good advice here, the key point being, make sure to fill it out!

• “University of Arizona hikes tuition by 3% for incoming students,” Washington Examiner: March 14, 2023.
  Note: Not all tuition raises are 3% this is worth reading if you’re thinking about getting a degree in Arizona.

• “Report: Alabama college students spend among the most in the country for education,” al.com: Mar13, 2023.
  Note: an interesting article though discussion of net price to students would have been useful.

• “There Is No Constituency That Really Wants To Lower College Prices,” Forbes: Mar 4, 2023.

• Note: An interesting if somewhat disturbing read.

• “10 Best Scholarship Websites for College in 2023,” Money: Feb 28, 2023.
  Note: They are certainly good sites. Whether they are “best” or not is ultimately up to you.

• “Top money hacks to get more college financial aid,” CNBC: Feb 27, 2023.
  Note: Good advice here for people who need more money to make a degree work for them financially.

• “How To Switch To A STEM Career | Bankrate: Feb 24, 2023.
  Note: Many STEM careers pay well but often require training. Read this to see how you can pay for it

• “Pros And Cons Of Private Student Loans | Bankrate: Feb 24, 2023.
  Note: Lots of useful advice on private and public loans here. Well worth the read if you need them.

• How To Consolidate Student Loans | Bankrate: Feb 24, 2023.
  Note: consolidation is a process some people who have Federal student loans can benefit from. Read this to learn more.

• “4 Myths About College Scholarships That Could Cost You,” Money: Feb 9, 2023.
  Note: Everyone thinking about financial aid at any school should read this piece. All four myths trip people up at times.

• “Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Student Loans: What to Borrow?” Entrepreneur: Dec 26, 2022.
  Note: A very informative explanation of the differences between these loan types and strategies you should use if you need student loans.

• “After Tuition, Books, and Room and Board, Colleges’ Rising Health Fees Hit a Nerve | Kaiser Health News: Dec 19, 2022.
  Note: College health charges can be a large unexpected cost. Find out what your potential schools demand for on-campus health services.

• “What free college looks like in the US,” Triad City Beat: Dec 11, 2022.
  Note: A survey of states that offer some form of free college education. Many pointers to resources here.

• “How Colleges Conceal Their True Prices,” Forbes: Dec 8, 2022.

• “Financial aid offers from 9 in 10 U.S. colleges are misleading: report - CBS News": Dec 6, 2022.
  Note: articles on the below report from the US Government Accounting Office are common. Get help sorting through your awards before committing to a campus.

• “Financial Aid Offers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid,” U.S. GAO: released Dec 5, 2022.
  Note: This report is very concerning. As above, seek aid in toing through your financial aid offers once received.

• “As enrollment falls and public skepticism grows, some colleges are cutting their prices,” The Hechinger Report: Nov 25, 2022.

• “How student loan borrowing, college costs and grant aid have changed over time | CNN Politics: Nov 18: 2022. Note: Useful data and perspective here.

• “What's behind the sky-high cost of a college education — and are there any solutions?” CBS News: Nov 5, 2022.
  Note: A lot of really useful analysis here. Well worth the read.

• “Families can get Pell Grants of up to $6,895 to help with college costs. Here’s what you need to know,” CNBC: Nov 2, 2022.
  Note: If you worry about affording college at all read this article!

• “Here’s One Thing That Increased Less Than Inflation This Year: College Tuition,” Forbes: Oct 24, 2022.
  Note: The author cites a lot of interesting statistics and does include net price trends which doesn’t always happen. Well worth the read.

• “Deals between banks and colleges are flouting the law, putting students at risk of paying high fees, consumer watchdog finds" – MarketWatch: Oct 18, 2022.

• “Earlier Is Better When It Comes To Applying For Financial Aid,” Forbes: Oct 12, 2022.
  Note: Yes! Absolutely!

• “When Is the FAFSA Deadline?” Money: Oct 10, 2022.
  Note: this piece has very useful information and links to help you plan for financial aid applications. Well worth the read.

• [opinion]“4 ways you can boost college financial aid if your FAFSA data is out of date – MarketWatch: Oct 7, 2022.

• “This is the best time to apply for college financial aid,” CNBC: Oct 4, 2022.

• “FAFSA Guide for Maximum Financial Aid in 2022,” Moneywise.com: Oct 1, 2022.

• “How to Apply for the FAFSA in 9 Easy Steps | Money: Oct 1, 2022.
  Note: This guide may be very helpful but whatever guide you use, applying early is key!

• “How Much Should You Trust College Rankings?” Forbes: Sept 30, 2022.
  Note: This is worth the read for the diverse perspectives, and the advice quoted by the author to focus on major vs campus is very useful.

• “'No-loan Financial Aid Colleges: What to Know,” US News and World report: Sept 22, 2022Note: Many colleges discussed herein. The policy and its variations are really the key thing here.

• “The Heinous Cost of College Is Getting Even Worse — Don't Miss These Critical Tools to Keep It Under Control,” MoneyWise.com: Sept 11, 2022.
  Note: Useful advice here though the set-up is depressing in its realism.

• “Federal vs. private student loans: What's the difference? - CBS News: Sept 8, 2022.

• “College tuition inflation isn't as bad as you think,” Axios: Aug 27, 2022.
  Note: This focuses on the net price of college rather than the posted price. Some interesting analysis of college psychology on posted prices.

• “College financial aid: It’s a sham that depends on what colleges think families will pay,” Slate: July 25, 2022.

• “Thinking about taking out a private student loan? These are the latest rates – MarketWatch: Aug 23, 2022.
  Note: With the Federal Reserve likely to raise interest rates again, this information will be dated fairly soon but is useful as of Aug 23 2022.

• “A financial aid checklist for NC parents of students heading to college,” The Raleigh News and Observer: Aug 22, 2022.

• “How to apply for a student loan - CBS News: Aug 16, 2022.

• “Most families don’t know when to file FAFSA for college financial aid,” CNBC: Aug 15, 2022.
  Note: The true takehome is, once the FAFSA goes up on Oct 1, apply as early as you can.

• “California Colleges are Creating Centers to Assist Students With Their Basic Needs,” KQED: Aug 14, 2022
  Note: This discusses centers at UC, CSU and California community colleges and what they do for students who need their services.

• “Key Changes Coming To The FAFSA For Fall 2022,” Forbes: Aug 12, 2022.

• [possible paywall] “The next inflation-driven worry: Rising college tuition,” The Washington Post: Aug 12, 2022.
  Note: This piece only lightly touches on the net price, not the posted price of college. Always check net price calculators for campuses you’re interested in. Other than this concern there is a lot of useful information here if you can access the WaPo.

• “How to manage stress about money while you're in college,” CNBC: Aug 9, 2022.
  Note: Lots of good advice here. Very well worth the read.

• [probable paywall] “A Guide to the Coming College Financial-Aid Season,” The Wall St. Journal: Aug 8, 2022.
  Note: LOTS OF VALUABLE ADVICE HERE. Libraries may have subscriptions to the WSJ if you don’t have access yourself.

• “5 Financial Aid Mistakes To Avoid As You Start College,” Forbes: Aug 1, 2022.

• “How To Lower Your EFC[Expected Family Contribution] To Qualify For More Financial Aid,” Forbes: July 31, 2022.

• “Federal vs. private student loans: What’s the difference?,” Bankrate: July 26, 2022.
  Note: A nice, if fairly brief, analysis of the differences between the two and when one may be more beneficial to use than the other.

• “21 Ways for College Students to Earn Extra Cash,” Kiplinger: July 17, 2022.

• “Chasing Athletic Scholarship Dreams Can Be a Costly Mistake" | Kiplinger: July 17, 2022.

• “What Is A Federal Direct Loan? | Bankrate: July 15, 2022.
  Note: Bankrate.com has several pieces on financial aid for college. This is one that may prove helpful if you need money to get your degree.

• “From tuition hikes to higher student loan borrowing costs, inflation is making college even more expensive,” CNBC: July 15, 2022.

• “Tuition Prices Will Jump As Colleges Grapple With Inflation, Demand For Higher Wages,” Forbes: July 14, 2022.

• “What Is A Private Student Loan?” Bankrate: July 13, 2022.

• “How To Get A Student Loan Without A Parent,” Bankrate: July 13, 2022.

• “What Is A Pell Grant And How Do I Apply?” Bankrate: July 13, 2022.
  Note: If you read any of the Bankrate pieces here, this is the one to read first in my view.

• “How to go to college in NC without student loans,” The Charlotte Observer: July 8, 2022.
  Note: Some of their suggestions are NC specific (though often with parallel programs in other states) but some are usable anywhere, particularly, filling out the FAFSA!

• “Bowdoin College includes all students in 'need-blind' financial aid,” WMTW TV: July 7, 2022.
  Note: Bowdoin is only the seventh college to include international students in this: Per the story, the others are: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Dartmouth , and Amherst.

• “Student loan debt: Here's how to know the amount you can afford,” CNBC: June 30, 2022.

• “10 Sneaky College Fees That Could Break Your Budget,” FinanceBuzz: May 5, 2022.
  Note: A LOT OF REALLY WISE ADVICE IN HERE. 

• “Student loan interest rates are about to go up :” NPR: May 6, 2022.
  Note: Watch rates as time passes and the Prime Rate continues to change.

• [paywall!]“Student Loans: Five Steps College Graduates Should Take,” the Wall St. Journal: May 9, 2022.
  Note: This is behind a paywall but if you can get access it is very much well worth reading.

• “Teens headed to college this year could face almost $40K in debt, and more parents are shouldering the load,” MarketWatch: May 10, 2022.
  Note: Useful information here. Keys include being strategic about loans and fill out the FAFSA!

• “Student Loans: Here Are The New Rates,” Forbes: May 14, 2022.

• “College finance tips to avoid relying on student loans to pay for school,” ABC7 Chicago: May 14, 2022.

• “How to Pay for College," Money: Nov 5, 2020.

• “Published Tuition At Top Colleges To Increase An Average 3.7% Next Year,” Forbes: May 22, 2022.  Note: USE NET PRICE CALCULATORS TO DETERMINE WHAT YOUR ACTUAL COSTS WILL BE.

• “Tennessee commission freezes tuition at state public institutions, citing inflation,” Fox Business: May 22, 2022.
  Note: This piece does not make it clear whether the freeze applies to all students or just those who are in-state. -state.

• [possible paywall] “After lull, employers renew interest in helping workers repay student debt,” The Washington Post: May 28, 2022.

• “15 Confusing Financial Aid Terms You Need to Know,” FinanceBuzz: May 30, 2022.
  Note: Despite some seeming typos, there is a good deal of potentially useful information here.

• “The most expensive state to go to college — plus tips on how to save money,” MarketWatch: May 31, 2022.

• “How to pay for college after a financial setback,” CNBC: June 2, 2022.
  Note: Very thoughtful advice here but as always, almost before anything else, the great key is to fill out the FAFSA!

• “Higher Student Loan Rates Coming For Borrowers This Fall,” Forbes: June 3, 2022.

• “How much does college really cost? It may be much less than you think,” CNBC: June 7, 2022.
  Note: A well thought out piece that doesn’t make the mistake of focusing on the list price of college but rather the net price after financial aid.

• “Hispanic-serving universities provide most economic mobility, report says,” NBC News: June 10, 2022.
  Note: See the report from the Third Way below for more information and perspective.

• “What Is Work-Study?” Bankrate: June 20, 2022.
  Note: Describes the hows, wheres, benefits and some limits on work-study programs.

• “Guide To Need-Based Financial Aid,” Bankrate: June 20, 2022.
  Note: Much useful advice here, led by the need to apply for the FAFSA! But with other advice here as well.

• “Should Parents Cosign Student Loans?” Forbes: June 21, 2022.
  Note: If you are a parent and thinking on cosigning for a student loan for your college bound child this is an essential read.

• “How to Get a Scholarship for College” Education Loan Finance: Apr 6, 2022.
  Note: Though this organization mostly focuses on student loan refinance, their guide on
  How to Get a Scholarship for College is very informative and well worth a read.

• “Don't Let the FAFSA Deadline Sneak Up on You This Year,” CNET: Mar 30, 2022.

• “Good news for college students: Pell Grants have gotten a boost,” MarketWatch: Mar 28, 2022. Note: To benefit from this you must apply for the FAFSA!

• “these are the Country’s top Dream Colleges, But Price Remains a Concern:” CNBC: Mar 27, 2022. Note: Article doesn’t overtly state the importance of looking at the net price of these schools but useful information here all the same.

• “College Money 101: From student loans to setting up a budget,” CNBC: Mar 24, 2022

• “Biggest Mistakes That Families Make When Appealing College Financial-Aid Decisions,” The Wall St. Journal: Mar 6, 2022. Note: [paywall] This article describes several errors you can make when appealing financial aid decisions or asking for larger awards from preferred campuses.

• “Appealing For More Financial Aid Can Be Daunting, Here Are Some Tips On Navigating The Process,” Forbes: Mar 1, 2022.

• “Why choosing between public and private college based on tuition can be a mistake,” CNBC: Feb 23, 2022.

• “Many Students Limit Their College Choices Because Of Lack Of Information About The Net Price Of College,” Forbes: Feb 16, 2022.

• “Can College Students Get More Financial Aid Mid-Year? Experts Weigh In,” Forbes: Feb 8, 2022.
  Note: The author has collected a lot of really good ideas here.

• “Income Share Agreements Can Help Pay for College, but Experts Recommend Maxing Out Federal Student Loans First,” Next Advisor [part of time]: Feb 1, 2022.
  Note: If you’re  deciding between an ISA and loans to pay for college this article could be extremely useful. Lots of clear information on both and how they compare.

• "What Can You Really Do to Control Your Child’s College Tuition Costs?” Forbes: Dec 29, 2021.

• “How Much College Debt Should Students and Parents Take On? Here’s How to Figure It Out.” The Wall St. Journal: Sept 5, 2021. Note: This piece is behind a paywall but if you can get access through a library or via another method, it is very much worth reading carefully.

• “How To Cut College Costs,” Forbes: Dec 26, 2021.

• “Most Expensive Colleges in Every State,” 24/7 Wall St. Dec 20, 2021. Note: This ranking claims to use net prices not pre-financial aid  costs.

• “Millions of jobs qualify for public service loan forgiveness—here’s how to know if yours does,” CNBC: Dec 14, 2021.

• “7 Tools That Give the Best Estimates for How Much College Will Really Cost Your Family,” Money: Dec 6, 2021. Note: A listing of seven tools or tool types that can help you estimate the actual retail price of various campuses to you.

• “How To Get Free Tuition For Higher Education In California,” LAist: Dec 4, 2021.

• “More Colleges Are Promising to Help Pay the Student Loans of Low-Earning Graduates,” Money: Nov 25, 2021. Note: Many colleges have loan repayment assistance programs for certain graduates. See if your campus does. Use the College Scoreboard and Bureau of Labor Statistics (linked in resources) to see whether graduates in your proposed career may qualify for them in particular.

• “Most California college students who qualify for ‘food stamps’ aren’t using them,” the Modesto Bee: Nov 23, 2021. Note: If you, or someone you know, can’t pay for food, rent and tuition all at once, please read this article and see if your campus has similar resources to help you access the food you need to succeed.

• “More companies offer tuition assistance, student loan repayment to help with college costs,” CNBC: Nov 9, 2021.

• “9 budgeting tips for university students,” Macleans Nov 3, 2021.

• “$100 Million In Scholarship Money Goes Unclaimed Every Year. Does It Have To?,” Forbes: Nov 1, 2021.

• “Which States Have The Least And Most Expensive Public Colleges?,” Forbes: Nov 1, 2021. Note: Lots of interesting information here that points toward data in the entry below.

• “Trends in College Pricing,” The College Board: Late October 2021. Note: A terrific resource from the College Board that allows comparison of costs of colleges among many other features.

• “How much for that textbook? Five ways students can save on course books,” USA Today: Oct 15, 2021.

• “Apply for FAFSA college aid money now, but avoid these costly mistakes,” USA Today: Oct 15, 2021.

• “Free FAFSA Help: Here's Where to Get Advice From College Aid Experts,” Money: Oct 12, 2021.

• “Everything to Know About Filling Out the CSS Profile,” Money: Oct 12, 2021.
  Note: CSS is used by many selective colleges and has somewhat different requirements than the FAFSA which they also use. In short, read this article thoroughly if you’re looking at selective colleges.

• “How to Apply for the FAFSA,” Money: Oct 11, 2021.

• “FAFSA Tips: These 7 Moves Could Help You Score More Financial Aid,” Money: Oct 11, 2021.

• “The FAFSA, Your Ticket to Help Pay for College, Just Opened,” Nerdwallet: Oct 5, 2021.

• “Students miss out on billions in college aid due to these 4 common FAFSA misconceptions,” CNBC: Oct 5, 2021.

• “What you need to know about changes to the ’22-’23 FAFSA application and how to fill out the form,” CNBC: Oct 2, 2021.

• “5 Fast But V. Important FAFSA Facts That Students Need To Know,” Buzzfeed: Oct 1, 2021

• “Most Expensive Colleges—and What Students Actually Pay,” Newsweek: Oct 2, 2021.
  Note tuition charges and net costs at these schools do not track each other: proof of different financial aid resources and priorities—and not only on these campuses. Estimate what you may pay at schools you’re considering via their net price calculators.

• “How to Apply for the FAFSA,” Money: Sept 30, 2021. Note: I can’t encourage applying for the FAFSA strongly enough!

• “How to get more financial aid for college,” CNBC: Sept 28, 0221. Note: The take home message? Fill out the FAFSA!

• “The master’s degrees that give the biggest salary boost—up to 87% more money,” CNBC: Sept 24, 2021.

• “These 6 US Colleges Offer Free Tuition So Students Don't Have To Pay To Study,” Narcity USA: Sept 22, 2021. Note: Read the article to discover partial caveats on the headline.

• “The top 10 U.S. colleges will all cost you at least $55,000 a year in tuition,” MarketWatch Sept 14, 2021.

• “You Can Get Free Money for College — and Help Finding It,” NerdWallet: Sept 2, 2021.

• “College Insurance: Do You Need It? Checklist For Parents Of Students,” Rolling Stone: Aug 6, 2021.

• “CollegeXpress: Scholarships Are Out There. Here’s How to Find Them,” Your Teen: Sept 1, 2021.

• “More Than 1,000 Minnesota First-Time Student Loan Borrowers to Get Free College Success Coaching Under New State Partnership,” The 74: Aug 26, 2021.

• “The rampant growth of US college tuition is finally slowing down,” Quartz: Aug 23, 2021.

• “Headed Away to School? Here’s What Students With Health Issues Need to Know,” Kaiser Health News: Aug 24, 2021.

• “Colleges help students apply for food stamps, as rules ease,” Cal Matters: Aug 18, 2021.

• “10 Tips to Help You Pay for College This Fall,” Money: Aug 20, 2021.

• “Soaring Home Values Could Lower Your College Student's Financial Aid Package,” Money: Aug 13, 2021.

• “Can you use your college student loans for living expenses?,” CNBC: Aug 8, 2021.

• “12 Ways to Save on College Expenses From a Recent College Graduate ,” Real Simple: July 23, 2021.

• “University Of California Raises Tuition For First Time Since 2017,” Forbes: July 22, 2021.

• “How to Pay for College When Your Family Makes Too Much Money to Qualify for Financial Aid,”Money: July 21, 2021.

• “How To Save Big On College Textbooks This Year,” Forbes: July 21, 2021.

• “Dorm Costs Have Soared, but Many Freshmen Have No Choice,” Nerd Wallet via The Entrepreneur: July 21, 2021. Note: As a former university administrator I strongly encourage a year in the dorms for a variety of reasons but this piece is well researched where costs are concerned.

• “50 Colleges Where Parents Take Out the Biggest Loans to Pay Tuition,” Newsweek: July 21, 2021.

• “Missouri governor ends limits on college tuition increases,” KMBC TV: July 13, 2021.

• “Starting college in the fall? How to decide the right amount to borrow,” CNBC: July 7, 2021.

• “Students, parents leave billions of dollars on the table by failing to file a FAFSA,” CNBC: June 28, 2021.

• “Which Are The Most Generous And Prestigious Scholarships And Fellowships?,” Forbes: June 23, 2021.

• “How to Save Money on College Tuition,” Real Simple: June 15, 2021

• “College tuition is up 33% since 2000: How to cope with rising costs,” Fox Business: June 8, 2021. Note: There are pointers to lots of useful resources in this article.

• “What is a 3-year college degree program and how much does it cost?” Fox business: Jun 4, 2021.

• “How Much Should Parents Really Pay for College? An Expert Explains in a New Book,” Money: Jan 28, 2021. Note: The book (not by me!!) referred to in this article is definitely worth encouraging your local school or library to purchase.

• “Didn't Get Enough Financial Aid For College? You Can Ask For More Money,” NPR: Jan 16, 2021.

• “Pandemic Relief Package Simplifies FAFSA,” Forbes: Dec 22, 2020.

• “Opinion: To get the most college financial aid, you need to plan 2 years ahead,” MarketWatch: Nov 23, 2020.

• “How To Help College Applicants Get Financial Aid During Covid,” Forbes: Nov 17, 2020.

• “How To Win A College Scholarship,” Forbes: Nov 16,2020.

• “9 Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for Federal Financial Aid,” Money: Oct 26, 2020.

• “What Is The Return On Investment From A Liberal Arts Education?” Forbes: Oct Oct 22, 2020.

• “The FAFSA opens Oct 1—and it’s more important than ever to complete it ASAP,” CNBC: Sept 29, 2020.

• “FAFSA Opens Soon—Here’s What to Know If You’ll Have a Student in College Next Year,” Real Simple:  Sept 24, 2020.

• “What is an income share agreement? What college students need to know about this type of student loan,” Nerd Wallet via MarketWatch: Sept 24, 2020.

• “U.S. News ‘Best Colleges’ rankings will take colleges’ average debt load into account for the first time,” MarketWatch: Sept 14, 2020.

• “Don’t Make These Common Errors On The FAFSA,” Forbes: Sept 13, 2020.

• “Student Loan Strategies: How to Borrow Smartly (and Maybe, Less) for College,” Money: Sept 2, 2020.

• “Coronavirus Could Force Colleges to Permanently Close Their Doors. Here’s How to Tell if Your School Is at Risk” Aug 28, 2020.

• “Colleges Are Flooded With Requests for More Financial Aid. Here's How You Can Make the Strongest Case,” Money: Aug 26, 2020.

​