The headlines about the rising cost of education and college debt have led many families to hit the panic button. Here's a reality check.
These common assumptions about paying for college can unfortunately influence parents and students to take missteps in their college planning.
1. If my parents save for college, it will hurt my financial aid offer.
Most colleges expect parents to use a percentage of their savings to help pay for college per year. And some savings, including money in retirement funds, are not counted at all.
2. My chances of getting admitted are better if I don’t apply for aid.
Your need for financial aid will likely not be a factor in admission to public universities and most private colleges. If you are a borderline applicant, your need for aid may be considered. Your chances of admission and generous aid are best at schools where you are a desirable candidate.
3. Financial aid will cover all of my fiscal needs.
Colleges are not required to fully meet students’ financial need. If the student is under 24 and not declared an independent student, both parents and student bear primary responsibility for paying for college. If such a student applies for aid without parental financial information, only an unsubsidized loan will be offered.
4. I’ll be drowning in debt by the time I graduate.
You don’t have to graduate with six-figure debt. To control college debt, apply to colleges with low graduate debt levels, work part-time, graduate in four years, and pay loan interest while you are in college so it doesn’t get added to your loan balance. If you take precautions, you can end up with manageable debt.
5. Private colleges are too expensive to consider
The published “sticker price” of a private college is intimidating. But most private colleges offer merit aid and tuition discounts that bring the net price down for students they want to enroll. The most selective private colleges generally offer only need-based aid, but their definition of “needy” includes incomes many consider affluent. So, let the financial aid process play out before deciding on a college.
6. I should attend my top-choice college even if it’s outrageously expensive.
It’s hard to turn down a college you’ve fallen in love with. But imagine what it would be like to graduate with a crippling amount of debt. So, give your alternatives a second look. For example, many public colleges offer honors programs with high levels of rigor and robust alumni connections. College is more about what you make of your experience and less about what the college experience makes of you.
F-2612071P-Y1122W
