In the Student Loan Battle, Neither Plan's a Win for Borrowers
As President Obama takes aim at Congress' student loan proposal, it becomes clear that neither side is offering a flawless plan.
college tuition
5 Sneaky Ways to Get In-State Tuition for Your Out-of-State Kid
If your kid's dream college is on the wrong side of the state line, you may think you're doomed to killer tuition bills. But there are ways to dodge those out-of-state rates.
Why the Best Low-Income Students Don't Go to Top Colleges
There's a dearth of top students from low-income high schools attending elite colleges. DailyFinance senior writer Bruce Watson explains some of the surprising reasons why.
The High Cost of Higher Education Explained in One Simple Graphic
College costs in America have gone through the roof, rising far faster than the costs of housing or health care: Here, in one infographic, is the tuition explosion explained.
Saving For College Hits Record High
College is getting pricier, and parents are saving more than ever. Tuition savings jumped by more than $25 billion last year.
How Unwary Grandparents Can Wreck Your College Financial Aid
It's only getting harder for parents to pay for their children's college bills alone -- so help from generous relatives can be a godsend. But be warned: If the college savings plan grandpa is using isn't set up properly, that "help" can actually hurt the student's financial aid package.
His Financial Goal: Get Ahead of the High Cost of Higher Education
Everyone has things they want to improve about their financial lives -- even the staff of DailyFinance. So we asked money expert Jean Chatzky for advice on how to reach our goals, and we're sharing her answers with you. First up: An editor looking ahead to college tuition bills.
Your Parents Think You Stink at Managing Your Money
Fidelity recently conducted a survey asking parents how they think their adult children are doing at handling their finances. As you might expect, those parents didn't hold back with their criticism.
The 9 Most Important Financial Stories of 2012
Sometimes the most important news stories get overshadowed by short-term crises and teakettle tempests. With that in mind, we at DailyFinance decided to take a look back at the nine stories of 2012 that are likely to have the biggest impact on your wallet in the year ahead.
A Better Source for College Loans May Be Just Around the Corner
It can be tough to find the money to pay for college, and the federal government's flexible, low-interest student loans often aren't enough. In the past, that has only left the option of private loans, with painfully higher rates. But now, hundreds of community groups are getting into the action.
Financially on Track by 30? For Too Many, It's a Pipe Dream
By the time we hit the big 3-0, we expect our lives will be on track: Careers under way, finances under control, and perhaps even a partner to share the journey with. But the downturn has knocked millions of early 30-somethings off the track they expected to follow.
3 Creative Ways to Save More for Your Child's College Education
Kids born today will need an average of nearly $250,000 for college -- and that's a lot of saving for parents to do. But there are ways beyond the obvious 529 plans and Coverdell accounts to bump up your savings -- and some require no sacrifices, nor any extra money out of your pocket.
For Richer, Not Poorer: 6 Reasons to Cut Your Wedding Cost in Half
Financial advisor Nicole Seghetti has counseled many young couples, and never once has she heard newlyweds say they wish they'd spent more on their wedding. Mostly, they wished they'd spent far less. Here are the six most common things they'd rather have saved that cash for, and how much further it would have gotten them.
Why College May Not Be the Best Choice for Your Education Dollar
Middle class Americans are fairly fervent in their belief that the route to career success has to run through a good college. But the numbers don't lie: Vocational studies might offer many the best chance at a solid career and a lifetime free of debt.
3 College Finance Tips for Scared Students (and Their Parents)
More than 80% of parents of 16- to 18-year-olds believe college is important to their child's future -- and a similar number are worried about how to pay for it. Here are a few tips that could make solving the college financing puzzle a little easier.
Colleges Urged to Adopt Easier- to-Understand Student Aid Form
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is urging colleges and universities to adopt an easy-to-understand financial aid form to help students make smarter decisions on where to study, how to pay and determine what they'll owe.
Parents Cutting Back on College Spending, Says Sallie Mae
Families are implementing more cost-saving strategies to cut college spending, choosing less expensive schools and finding more economical ways for students to attend, according to a study from Sallie Mae, the country's largest student lender.
Tax Breaks Every College Student (and Parent) Should Know About
Despite the fact that tens of millions of Americans are still struggling to make ends meet in our slowly rebounding economy, the cost of college keeps rising higher. Fortunately, one institution is offering some relief from high tuition: the IRS.
Are Some College Trustees Abusing Their Trust for Profit?
Ever wonder why college is so expensive, or why schools' big endowments aren't bearing more of the burden? Well, past of the problem may be that the trustees investing those endowment funds are taking better care of themselves than they are of their schools' money.
Lower College Loan Interest Rates Won't Fix the Student Debt Crisis
People with student loans got some good news this weekend, as Congress extended a cut in the interest rate on federal Stafford loans for a year. That'll save borrowers some money now, but those low rates may just be compounding the student debt crisis.
How Low Interest Rates Could Push College Costs Even Higher
With so many young adults struggling with college debt, maintaining the current low 3.4% interest rate on Stafford loans sounds like a no-brainer. But former Education Secretary William Bennett thinks low rates will only lead colleges to become more expensive.
Paying for College: Two Websites Offer Outside-of-the-Box Ideas
With student loan debt at a trillion dollars and rising, it's no surprise that more students are searching for creative ways to finance their college educations. Alltuition and CollegeNET are among the companies that want to help.
Is This the Answer to the Student Debt Crisis? FixUC's 5% Solution
College tuition just keeps rising, and student loan debt is at an all-time high, leading to hefty loan payments that can overwhelm earners early in their careers. But a group called FixUC has a radical proposal to re-think tuition that could make everyone happy.
Can't Get a Mortgage? Blame Your Student Loans
With college costs high and rising, more students are putting themselves deeper into debt than ever. But those huge debt loads don't just pressure graduates to find high-paying jobs: They're also making it nearly impossible for many of them to get mortgages.
Let the IRS Help Pay for Your Higher Education
The cost of an education has never been higher. But by taking advantage of some tax benefits, you can at least put a small dent in some of those bills. Which of that complicated menu of tax benefits applies to you? DailyFinance breaks it down.
Obama Decries Rising Cost of College Education
President Barack Obama called Friday for an overhaul of the higher education financial aid system, warning that colleges and universities that fail to control spiraling tuition costs could lose federal funds.
Top 10 Private Colleges That Won't Bust Your Budget
You don't have to pay a fortune, or rely on financial aid, to attend a top-quality private college or university. These 10 have the lowest sticker price among Kiplinger's best values in private universities and liberal arts colleges.
More Colleges Offering Tuition Breaks
Recognizing the tight financial situation many American students and their families are facing, a growing number of private and public colleges are offering discounted tuition in an effort to attract more students.
How to Go to College Without Going Broke
Between rising tuition and a weak job market, some pundits argue that higher education isn't worth the money anymore. But college grads on average earn more than twice as much as workers with only a high school diploma. So how can you get a degree without spending the rest of your life in debt?
Are College Cost Calculators Flunking the Math?
Oct. 29 is the deadline for U.S. colleges to put "net price calculators" on their websites -- tools intended to estimate the real cost of attending for each specific student. But the most widely adopted calculator is inaccurate -- to the tune of thousands of dollars, experts say.