How to Deal with the Cost

Making Opportunities Affordable

Paying for It: Be Open to What's Possible:
When it comes to dealing with the cost, there's no need to get stressed out, because for most families, financial aid resources are available. It will probably take a combination of research, preparation, planning and persistence, but paying for college is possible. Cost should never prevent any student from pursuing postsecondary education. A better life is within reach for your child or the child you care for.

Your First Step: Understand Federal Student Aid
If you need help paying for education after high school, your first resource should be the federal government. One of the best ways to learn about all the available federal loans, grants and work-study opportunities is in Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid.

Use the Financial Preparation section of the Student Aid on the Web Parent page as a starting point to improve your financial literacy, learn about savings plans and tax benefits and find links to many helpful tools and resources.

How to deal with the cost : Making opportunities affordable

Paying for It: Be Open to What's Possible
When it comes to dealing with the cost, there's no need to get stressed out, because for most families, financial aid resources are available. It will probably take a combination of research, preparation, planning and persistence, but paying for college is possible. Cost should never prevent any student from pursuing postsecondary education. A better life is within reach for your child or the child you care for.

Your First Step: Understand Federal Student Aid
If you need help paying for education after high school, your first resource should be the federal government. One of the best ways to learn about all the available federal loans, grants and work-study opportunities is in Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid.

Use the Financial Preparation section of the Student Aid on the Web Parent page as a starting point to improve your financial literacy, learn about savings plans and tax benefits and find links to many helpful tools and resources.

Borrowing vs. Cashing In: Know the Way to Go
If you plan on helping to pay, consider taking out loans from the federal government. If you are like many families, you may worry about borrowing money. But in this case, you shouldn't. Education loans are an investment in your family's future.

Some people might prefer to cash in their investments rather than borrow. This is almost always a bad idea. Why? Because the interest rate charged on education loans is usually lower than the interest most investments earn. The Federal P.L.U.S. Loan vs. Cashing Investments explains this in detail.


Visit college@ed.gov today for more information.