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Federal student loan rates go up for 2017-18
For families that take out federal student loans, college just got a bit more expensive. Starting July 1, 2017, federal loan interest rates are going up for loans taken out to pay for the 2017-18 academic year: Undergrads will pay a rate of 4.45%, up from the current 3.76% Graduate students will pay a rate…
Insider tips for the week of June 5, 2017
What you don’t know about financial aid (but should) – An important 8 min. read from the NY Times. Takeaways include colleges are free to come up with their own ways of defining a family’s ability to pay, don’t check the box on the Common Application if you intend to apply for financial aid b/c…
Insider tips for the week of May 1, 2017
4 questions every family should answer – Jodi Okun shares the questions every family should answer about college, including my favorite, “Who will be repaying the loans?” The parents assume the student will make payments, while the student may assume the parents will make payments. Everyone is surprised after graduation when the payment due notices…
5 tips for negotiating with colleges
For many colleges, May 1 is National College Decision Day, the deadline for families to make deposits to attend the college of their choice. But before families make their final decision and begin forking over lots of money to attend college, they should know it is possible to negotiate with colleges to get a…
Insider tips for the week of April 10, 2017
3 ways to talk to your child about paying for college – The Washington Post shares helpful conversation starters for the difficult, yet important, money talk with your student. A hidden college cost you probably didn’t think about – The Hechinger Report shines the light on a little-known reason why the…
The big problem facing Twin Cities’ small colleges
CIT’s Jay Benanav was recently interviewed in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Small private colleges are being pinched by higher costs and declining cash levels, and national trends aren’t in their favor Patrick Rehkamp Data Reporter Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal Several small Twin Cities private colleges use adjectives such as “innovation,” “creativity” and…
Hilarious take on the financial aid letter
It’s that time of year again when college financial aid packages are landing in mailboxes. And even the TV show “The Middle” couldn’t help but weigh in. Check out this hilarious 1 minute video!
Insider tips for the week of Mar. 13, 2017
College’s hidden costs: What the admissions office won’t tell you – The father of a college freshman shares with the Washington Post costs families incur beyond tuition, room and board. He admits they thought they thought they knew what the costs would be but were “dead wrong.” An important read for all parents. …
Insider tips for the week of Jan. 23, 2017
4 in 10 parents saving for college are making an expensive mistake – Far too many parents aren’t saving their cash in the most efficient way possible. Check out this Money Magazine article to see if you are one of them. What college admission officers say they want in a candidate – Spend…
Insider tips for the week of Dec. 26, 2016
What to do when you haven’t saved much for college – The Washington Post has an excellent summary of financial options families have for college. Take 5 min. to familiarize yourself with ways to make it more affordable. How college is different than high school – Southern Methodist University put together a handy chart…