Five Steps to Paying for Your Child’s College Education

1. Estimate how much your child’s college education will cost. For the latest on today’s and tomorrow’s college costs, read our Fast Facts: College costs.

2. Calculate how much you need to save. Use our College Savings Calculator to help determine how much you need to save.

3. Map out your plan. Devise your strategy using our College planning through the ages checklist.

4. Do Your College Savings Homework. School yourself in the basics of college funding by reviewing our Quick Tips: Smart College Planning.

5. Learn the ins and outs of financial aid. Find out what you need to know about financial aid by reviewing Financial aid from the Federal government.



Financial Library:

Fast Facts:

College costs

Putting money in your child's name

The new education tax credits

Stock & bond mutual funds

Stock and bond performance since 1926

Stocks

Bonds

Treasury securities

Treasury zero coupons

Series EE bonds

Financial aid from the U.S. government

State, college and private aid

Other ways to pay for college


Quick Tips:

Smart college planning

Easy ways to save

Q&A Frequently Asked Questions:

Education IRAs

The new education loan interest deduction



Financial Library:

The U.S. Department of Education - www.ed.gov:


The U.S. Department of Education - www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/StudentGuide:

The Student Guide: Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education.


The U.S. Department of Education - www.ed.gov/prog_info/SFA/FYE:

Funding Your Education 1997-98.


The Financial Aid Information Page – www.finaid.org:

Independent, comprehensive financial aid information sponsored by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.


FastWEB - www.fastweb.com:

A free, searchable database of 180,000 private scholarships, grants, and loans.


The College Board - www.collegeboard.org:

College cost and financial aid information, including tools for estimating your eligibility for federal financial aid.

College Savings Plan Network – www.collegesavings.org:

A list of prepaid tuition plans and contact information.

Peterson’s – www.petersons.com:


Investment Company Institute – www.ici.org:

Educational brochures including, Guide to Mutual Funds.


U.S. Treasury – www.ustreas.gov:

Information about Treasury securities and Series EE bonds.