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.
college tuition
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.