Financial Planning for College

Navigating the financial side of college can be a lot, but you don’t have to do it alone. This page is full of tools and resources to help you understand college costs, make a plan, and build your financial confidence. Whether you're just getting started or have specific questions, we’re here to support you—reach out any time!

Financial Literacy Resources

Financial Tools
	Financial aid news, savings-plan tips, a recession guide and rankings of the best values in education.
	Commentary, news, charts and blogs from New York Times contributors.
	National Association of State Treasurers-affiliated guide to 529 savings plans.
	Loan information, a FAFSA guide and a glossary of financial-aid terms from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education.
	Monitor your credit history. You can obtain a copy of your for free every twelve months from each of the three credit reporting companies.
	Read about avoiding student aid scams.

Loan Comparisons
	The Federal Student Aid Estimator can be used before filling out the FAFSA form to help understand options for paying for college by providing an early estimate of how much federal student aid one may be eligible for.
	Learn about the differences between federal and private student loans?

Loan Management
	This Loan Payment Calculator computes an estimate of the size of your monthly loan payments and the annual salary required to manage them without too much financial difficulty. This loan calculator can be used with Federal education loans (Stafford, Perkins and PLUS) and most private student loans.
	This is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan(s).
	Entrance counseling ensures you understand the terms and conditions of your loan and your rights and responsibilities. You'll learn what a loan is, how interest works, your options for repayment, and how to avoid delinquency and default.
	You can pick from repayment plans that base your monthly payment on your income or that give you a fixed monthly payment over a set repayment period.
	A Direct Consolidation Loan allows you to consolidate (combine) multiple federal student loans into one loan with a single monthly payment.