Jan 31

How much will college cost?

In 2019/20, the College Board reported the average public 4-year in-state, on-campus "all in" college cost was $26,590. When we originally wrote this article in 2017, the cost was $24,610. For private schools, the cost was $53,980 ($49,320 in 2017). So what does "all in" mean? Aren't we just looking... read more →

Jan 21

Smart Budgeting and Cash Flow for College Graduates

Did you have an allowance when you were a kid? Maybe some change or a few dollars if you did your chores? Were you the kid who spent your allowance right away or did you save all your pennies toward some big goal? Some of those habits may have followed... read more →

Jan 17

A Comprehensive Guide to Paying Off Your Student Loans

In today's world, the existence of student loans is more common than ever. With 45 million borrowers, the chances are good that most college graduates will have some amount of loan debt. We are finding that student loan debt is preventing people from other life choices like buying a home,... read more →

Dec 27

Planning for Multiple Children in College at the Same Time

When planning families, future parents don't think to themselves, "Gee, we better space these children out so we don't have to send two to college at the same time!" Well, maybe some parents do, but most don't. Plus, the decision about having multiple children is sometimes taken out of a... read more →

Dec 13

High School Course Options: What Are the Choices and Can They Save Money on College?

Beth Probst, Founder and CEO of At The Core, has some thoughts to share about high school course options and how they can save money on college. At The Core helps students figure out what they want to do after high school through educational path planning, informational programming, and personalized... read more →

Dec 06

Only 41% of Undergraduates Finish in 4 years

Need to keep college costs down? Graduate in 4 years! Seems like a no-brainer, right?! If you need to keep college costs down, you need to graduate in four years. The average price of college today is: Public university as an in-state student: $25,890 Public university in another state: $41,950... read more →

Nov 29

Breaking News! Tuition Free College and All Student Loans Forgiven!

Well not exactly, but if you're gonna dream, then dream big! Every election cycle the topic of tuition free college comes up. Is that even possible? Could debt ever be forgiven? Could the government afford to provide college at no cost to the student? We are highly skeptical. Here's why...... read more →

Nov 15

Pros and Cons of Community College

When choosing a college, 45% of people in a recent survey named cost their primary consideration. The runner up reasons were "major offered", "location/size", and "university's reputation." Cost was the most important factor when making their choice. When weighing out the choices, community college can be a valuable consideration when... read more →

Nov 08

5 Keys to Getting the Most Financial Aid

Every year students and their parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Every year parents wonder, "what's the point?!" The FAFSA is a tool used by the government to calculate a student's need for aid when it comes to paying for college. When the FAFSA goes live... read more →

Oct 31

Is ACT and SAT Testing Required?

The world of college admissions is ever changing. Recent negative headlines like the Operation Varsity Blues admission scandal has shown a light on a problem with ACT and SAT testing--often the ones with the money benefit the most. The standardized tests which were originally created to even the playing field... read more →