Tips for Parents

Financial Aid Tips for Upper Middle-Class Families

Financial Aid Tips for Upper Middle-Class Families

Yes, you read that right. Just because your household income is over six figures doesn’t automatically exclude you from getting tuition assistance. However, it does make things a little tougher, so you need to start early and know the right places to look. Here are three tips for higher-income families who don’t want to take …

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3 Things to Do the Summer Before College Starts

3 Things to Do the Summer Before College Starts

Every year, students graduate high school with the prospect of college beginning in the Fall. You should already know where you are going by the time summer arrives, but what can you do with those last few months? Here are a few suggestions for high school seniors who are thinking about how to spend their …

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4 Ways to Maximize Merit-Based Aid and Other Forms of College Funding

4 Ways to Maximize Merit-Based Aid and Other Forms of College Funding

Don’t write off need-based aid just because your family isn’t low income. Plenty of financial aid for school goes uncollected every year, so by applying for the right aid at the right time, you may have access to funds you never imagined possible. At the same time, you want to put all of your hard …

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Why College Students May End Up Paying for the Tax Overhaul

Why College Students May End Up Paying for the Tax Overhaul

Whether you love or you hate recent changes to the tax code, you need to be aware of how it will affect students who intend to go to college. Here are a few ways that the tax overhaul may end up costing students more money in the long run. SALT Tax Exemptions Have Been Limited …

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The Four Types of Direct Student Loans

The Four Types of Direct Student Loans

The primary system in place for getting federal student loans is the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. When you receive a student loan in this manner, it is the U.S. Department of Education that is loaning the money to you. The program consists of four loan types. Here is some more information on each …

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Three Tips for Funding Your Child’s College Tuition

Three Tips for Funding Your Child’s College Tuition

Financial aid, student loans, and scholarships all account for part of a student’s time in college, but much of the burden falls on parents. How can you make smart decisions while trying to fund your child’s tuition fees? Here are three important reminders. Have an emergency account – Set up a savings account just for …

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When You Earn Too Much to Get Financial Aid for College

When You Earn Too Much to Get Financial Aid for College

For a family of four in the United States, you may be considered to be on the high end of middle class if you earn between $50,000 and $100,000. But you may not feel like you’re on the high end of things if you have a big mortgage payment, and you have two kids in …

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Understanding “Need-Based” Financial Aid Formulas

Understanding “Need-Based” Financial Aid Formulas

No one pays full price for college. It’s not a rule, but between aid-based and non-aid-based funding sources, everybody should get something. Today, we’re going to tackle a complicated subject as simply as possible, how your family’s financial need is calculated. The Financial Aid Formula The basic formula for need-based financial aid looks like this: …

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The Help You Need When Applying for Financial Aid

The Help You Need When Applying for Financial Aid

Do you need assistance in applying for financial aid so that you can afford to attend the college of your choice? If you are looking for help in understanding the process and the forms involved, you’ve come to the right place. College Planning Source is proud to help students in Southern California to navigate the …

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How New Tax Laws Will Affect College Funding

How New Tax Laws Will Affect College Funding

If you are trying to put your children through college, you have a huge expense to think about. The new tax laws may affect how you choose to fund your child’s university education. Here are three of the ways that new federal laws are affecting college funding. #1 You Can’t Deduct the Interest Anymore This …

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