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  • Applying to College
      • Applying To College

        How many schools should you apply to? Are more expensive schools really better? And how do you find a school you can afford today that can help you get the career you want tomorrow? Choose this section to learn how to approach applying to college in a way that works for you and your budget.

    • Keeping college affordable
      • 10 things to know before you apply to college
      • More expensive schools: Are they better?
      • Can you put a price on your future?
      • What’s a graduation rate and why does it matter?
      • Questions to ask on your college visits
      • Your state could lower your cost of college
    • Smart ways to apply
      • How many schools should I apply to?
      • Four types of colleges, four types of prices
      • Community college could be a smart choice
      • Why you should keep away from for profit colleges
      • Pro tip: Have a financial safety school
      • Can your college application fees be waived?
    • Play College Crossroads
    • Helpful sites
      • Links and sources about applying to college
      • Special options for minority students
  • Financial Aid & FAFSA
      • A brief guide to understanding financial aid

        In general, financial aid is money you use to pay for college that doesn’t come out of your or your family’s savings. However, the phrase “financial aid” can be confusing, because it covers several different types of financial assistance.

    • Financial Aid & FAFSA
      • A brief guide to understanding financial aid
      • FAFSA: What it is, how it works
      • Your college and financial aid timeline
      • The Top 10 reasons people don’t fill out the FAFSA.®
      • How to estimate what you’ll receive in financial aid
      • Why financial aid doesn’t always save the day
      • Watch out for financial aid scams
    • Helpful sites
      • Links and sources about financial aid & FAFSA
  • Paying for college
      • Paying For College

        How much does it really cost to go to college? How do you decide if a school is worth the cost? And where can you find the money to pay for it all? Learn how to take on the big questions here.

    • Using your own money
      • Searching for savings
      • Smart ways to keep college costs down
      • Every extra year in college costs more
      • Should you work during college?
    • Getting “free money”
      • Free college money: Where to find it
      • Your state may offer grants
      • Streamline your scholarship search
      • Spotting scholarship scams
    • Borrowing money with student loans
      • Student Loans 101
      • How do student loans work?
      • Student loans don’t save you money
      • The different types of college loans
      • How much should I borrow for college?
      • How many times do I apply for a loan?
    • Helpful sites
      • Links and sources about paying for college
  • Before You Decide
      • Before You Decide

        You’re about to make one of the biggest decisions in your life so far. And it’s not just about where you’ll go to college, it’s about what path your future might take. Visit this section for ways to feel more confident about committing to a school that best fits your goals: personal, academic, professional and financial.

      • What do you want from college?
      • Calculate your personal costs of college
      • The Top 5 things to know about your college acceptance letters
      • Add up your loan costs before you commit
      • When the college you want costs more than you have
    • Helpful sites
      • Links and sources about making your final college decision
  • Student Stories
      • Student Stories

        The stories in this section are examples of real events that current and former college students shared with College Money Matters. Read what they went through and learn what you can do if you find yourself facing the same situation.

    • Student Stories About Paying for College
      • “My cost of attending wasn’t what my college said.”
      • “I couldn’t afford the colleges that accepted me.”
      • “I took 6 years to graduate and it cost me way more than I thought.”
      • “All my choices offered financial aid. But some were scholarships and some were loans.”
      • “I didn’t realize FAFSA had a deadline.”
      • “Why I wish I kept track of my loans.”
      • “I paid for a scholarship service I could have gotten for free.”
      • “I missed my chance to apply for scholarships.”
      • “The college I chose wasn’t right for me.”
      • “I don’t want more in student loans than my family can afford.”
  • Parents & Guardians
      • Parents & Guardians

        Parents know a good college education can set their child up for a bright future. But how can they pay for it without putting their own financial future at risk? Check out this section for answers to the questions parents ask most. They’re also good starters for some thoughtful parent-child discussions.

    • Paying for your kid’s college
      • Dreams vs dollars: A parent’s dilemma
      • Putting a price on your child’s education
      • How to have that discussion about paying for college
    • Loans for parents
      • What to know about co-signing a student loan
      • Parent PLUS college loans: How much is too much love?
      • The diploma vs debt decision
    • Tax-smart saving
      • The 529 Plan: Save on taxes while saving for college
    • Helpful Sites
      • Links and sources of college information for parents and  guardians
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  • cmm2024
October 4, 2024

Putting a price on your child’s education

Do you like it?
Read more
September 19, 2024

Pro tip: Have a financial safety school

Do you like it?
Read more
September 19, 2024

Community college could be a smart choice

Do you like it?
Read more
September 19, 2024

Four types of colleges, four types of prices

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September 19, 2024

How many schools should I apply to?

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  • Applying to College
    • [Column]
      • [Custom]
    • Keeping college affordable
      • 10 things to know before you apply to college
      • More expensive schools: Are they better?
      • Can you put a price on your future?
      • What’s a graduation rate and why does it matter?
      • Questions to ask on your college visits
      • Your state could lower your cost of college
    • Smart ways to apply
      • How many schools should I apply to?
      • Four types of colleges, four types of prices
      • Community college could be a smart choice
      • Why you should keep away from for profit colleges
      • Pro tip: Have a financial safety school
      • Can your college application fees be waived?
    • Play College Crossroads
    • Helpful sites
      • Links and sources about applying to college
      • Special options for minority students
  • Financial Aid & FAFSA
    • [Column]
      • [Custom]
    • Financial Aid & FAFSA
      • A brief guide to understanding financial aid
      • FAFSA: What it is, how it works
      • Your college and financial aid timeline
      • The Top 10 reasons people don’t fill out the FAFSA.®
      • How to estimate what you’ll receive in financial aid
      • Why financial aid doesn’t always save the day
      • Watch out for financial aid scams
    • Helpful sites
      • Links and sources about financial aid & FAFSA
  • Paying for college
    • [Column]
      • [Custom]
    • Using your own money
      • Searching for savings
      • Smart ways to keep college costs down
      • Every extra year in college costs more
      • Should you work during college?
    • Getting “free money”
      • Free college money: Where to find it
      • Your state may offer grants
      • Streamline your scholarship search
      • Spotting scholarship scams
    • Borrowing money with student loans
      • Student Loans 101
      • How do student loans work?
      • Student loans don’t save you money
      • The different types of college loans
      • How much should I borrow for college?
      • How many times do I apply for a loan?
    • Helpful sites
      • Links and sources about paying for college
  • Before You Decide
    • [Column]
      • [Custom]
    • Before you decide
      • What do you want from college?
      • Calculate your personal costs of college
      • The Top 5 things to know about your college acceptance letters
      • Add up your loan costs before you commit
      • When the college you want costs more than you have
    • Helpful sites
      • Links and sources about making your final college decision
  • Student Stories
    • [Column]
      • [Custom]
    • Student Stories About Paying for College
      • “My cost of attending wasn’t what my college said.”
      • “I couldn’t afford the colleges that accepted me.”
      • “I took 6 years to graduate and it cost me way more than I thought.”
      • “All my choices offered financial aid. But some were scholarships and some were loans.”
      • “I didn’t realize FAFSA had a deadline.”
      • “Why I wish I kept track of my loans.”
      • “I paid for a scholarship service I could have gotten for free.”
      • “I missed my chance to apply for scholarships.”
      • “The college I chose wasn’t right for me.”
      • “I don’t want more in student loans than my family can afford.”
  • Parents & Guardians
    • [Column]
      • [Custom]
    • Paying for your kid’s college
      • Dreams vs dollars: A parent’s dilemma
      • Putting a price on your child’s education
      • How to have that discussion about paying for college
    • Loans for parents
      • What to know about co-signing a student loan
      • Parent PLUS college loans: How much is too much love?
      • The diploma vs debt decision
    • Tax-smart saving
      • The 529 Plan: Save on taxes while saving for college
    • Helpful Sites
      • Links and sources of college information for parents and  guardians
  • Podcast
  • Deadlines & Resources
  • Newsletters
  • News
  • Contact
  • About
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