We've all read about how expensive college educations can be. Hopefully, you're stashing away your hard-earned bread to be able to send Timmy to Princeton. Don't worry if you can't -- endowments and scholarships are picking up the slack.

But, for those on the upwardly-mobile track and thinking of sending your kids to an elite high school, get ready for some sticker shock.

The NYTimes.com reports today about growing tuition rates and endowments at some of the nation's leading prep schools.

While schools such as Exeter charge almost $40,000 for tuition, room, and board according to the article, that's just a fraction of the average of $63,500 annually Exeter fronts to house and educate each of its 1,000 students.

So, what's an aspiring family without the requisite resources to do?

Continue reading And you thought college was expensive?

And you thought college was expensive? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In this multi-part personal finance series, readers will learn various ways to help save money for a college education, from off-the wall-scholarships and 529 programs to the right time to refinance your loans. Parents and students alike who read this series will find something to help reduce the costs of a higher education before, during and after it takes place.

Part IV: Financial Aid

Last year, 1.8 million low- to moderate-income families missed out on help from the government because they did not fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA for short, which is needed to qualify for any federal, state and some institutional financial aid awards, according to the American Council on Education. In addition, the Council estimated that 1.5 million families missed out on the Pell Grant, an award of $4,310 that does not have to be paid back, just because they failed to file the proper paperwork.

If I told you the government would give you $4,310 if you simply filled out a form, you'd do it in a heartbeat right?

Continue reading How to save money on your college education, part IV

How to save money on your college education, part IV originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 May 2007 17:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In this multi-part personal finance series, readers will learn various ways to help save money for a college education, from off-the wall-scholarships and 529 programs to the right time to refinance your loans. Parents and students alike who read this series will find something to help reduce the costs of a higher education before, during and after it takes place.

Part III: Work For It

When my friend James was in college, his parents made him learn the value of a dollar the hard way. They forced him to work during his education and didn't give him cent towards his schooling. He took out student loans and worked several jobs in his four-year stint at State, from after-school swim instructor to late-night security guard, he worked them all. Believe me; after all those hours of working while going to school full-time, he learned the value of a dollar. What he didn't know at the time, was the amount of college loans that piled up in the four years he was away.

Here are a few ideas that could help you not make the same mistakes he made:

Continue reading How to save money on your college education, part III

How to save money on your college education, part III originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 May 2007 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading How to save money on your college education, part II

How to save money on your college education, part II originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.