Affording College Archives - College Countdown

When the Aid Offer Comes Up Short: Hacks to Close the Gap

Although college is one of the most important investments you can make, you need to be honest about what options work within your budget. Here are a few tips that…

Laura Reisert Kalinkewicz, Ph.D.November 1, 2025

Affording College Senior Student Using Your 529

Applying for Financial Aid

As you are researching where they will apply, you will likely notice the cost differences across all degree-granting institutions. Tuition and fees, books, educational materials (e.g., laptop), technology fees, and…

Oscar Espinoza-Parra, Ph.D.October 29, 2025

Affording College

Is College Still Worth It? We Did the Math.

To answer that question, we reviewed the latest financial analyses as well as economic data going back decades. Then we pulled out our pencils and did a bunch of our…

Mitchel A. BaumOctober 23, 2025

Affording College Using Your 529

Celebrating the Many Rewards of Saving with a 529 Plan

By way of background, when our now recent grad was born, his father and I were still repaying a significant amount of student loan debt that we had accumulated to…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.October 20, 2025

Affording College Parenting

The Psychology of Money in the College Search: Rethinking What Success Really Costs

That is why every spring, families celebrate acceptance letters as if they were championship wins. It is a joyful moment, but it can also bring quiet pressure to pick the…

David Q. Hao, MA, JDOctober 12, 2025

Close-up of Benjamin Franklins eyes on the U.S.

Affording College

6 Financial Steps to Avoid When College Costs are Around the Corner

While some routes are better than others, others can have an adverse impact on your family’s financial health. Here are six financial missteps to avoid when college costs are soon…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.October 6, 2025

Affording College

How Can You Lower the Price Tag for College?

Scholarships: Scholarships are funds that you don’t have to pay back. So, apply for as many scholarships as you can. While they’re generally tax-free when used for tuition, textbooks, housing, and…

ScholarShare 529October 3, 2025

Affording College Senior Student

6 Tips for Student Loan Repayment

Even though repayment usually starts six months after graduation or you drop below half-time enrollment, you can choose to start repaying your loans while still in school to get a…

ScholarShare 529October 2, 2025

Affording College Junior Student Senior Student

C’s Are Expensive

Most financial awards a student receives in college are tied to maintaining a certain GPA. Typically, the requirement is 3.0, which would be considered straight Bs, but some awards may…

Neil Best, Ph.D.October 2, 2025

Affording College

How to Stretch College Dollars: Simple Steps That Save Thousands

You already know that the real challenge isn’t just paying the bill, it’s making each dollar stretch as far as possible. Financial aid, scholarships, and savings are finite, and the…

David Q. Hao, MA, JDOctober 1, 2025

Affording College Senior Student

3 Reasons to Fill Out the FAFSA

As the name implies, the FAFSA is completely free and gives you access to federal aid to make paying for college easier. Three reasons to fill out the FAFSA: 1.…

ScholarShare 529October 1, 2025

Affording College Junior Student Parenting

5 Reasons to Talk With Your Kid About College Financing Now

As a parent of a high school student, however, there’s no time like the present to have a candid conversation about college costs and the resources you have available to…

Patricia A. Roberts, J.D.September 24, 2025

Affording College

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