This handbook shows how families in various income groups manage to pay for college. The handbook is based on the real experiences of a large number of actual families, as described by national surveys. To find out exactly what it would cost to attend a particular college, the student would have to apply for financial aid, but this guide gives…

There are numerous financial planning and money management handbooks, but few focus on the needs of young adults between 16 and 25 years of age. Colleges and some high schools are increasingly offering courses covering money management, but the materials are more "economics-focused" than "real-world" focused. Young people are huge consumers who…

Since the early 1980s, college tuitions have soared, and state and federal governments have sought new ways to help students and families meet the costs of attendance. Annual state and federal appropriations to traditional student aid programs have more than doubled in the past two decades. In addition, the federal government created the Hope…

Pertinent information about the Alaska Student Loan Program is summarized. The topics covered include: purpose of the program; terms; questions and answers concerning loan amounts, application procedures and repayment; a payment reminder including a schedule of payments; the Alaska student loan statutes; and the Alaska student loan regulations.…

This pamphlet describes the Hope and Lifetime Learning Education Tax Credits program for students in college or vocational school. It briefly explains what a tax credit is; who is eligible to claim the credit; the difference between Hope credits and other education tax credits; what costs qualify for the credit; what the inflation-adjusted credit…

This resource book is designed to help parents help their children with the process of making decisions about college. It claims to help parents to: set high expectations for their children's future; know what college options are available; plan their finances with college in mind; and know what financial assistance may be available. These topics…

This document is a Spanish translation of a resource book designed to help parents help their children with the process of making decisions about college. Its purpose is to help parents to: set high expectations for their children's future; know what college options are available; plan their finances with college in mind; and know what financial…

Designed for students, parents, and others who may assist disabled students with financial assistance for postsecondary education, this fact sheet provides an overview of the financial aid system and a brief discussion of the varying roles and responsibilities of those who play a significant part in the process of providing aid to disabled…

Guidance on how to make college affordable, especially for middle-income families, is provided. Although college tuition and fees have more than doubled over the past 10 years and will continue to increase, traditional student aid programs have not kept pace with inflation and are earmarked chiefly for students from low-income families. The…

This guide is for parents of students in Missouri who are planning further education or training after high school. After a letter of introduction to parents from the Missouri Commissioner of Education and a brief overview of the importance of planning for advanced education, it provides checklists of planning activities for students during 9th…

Guidelines for a student financial counseling and debt management program from high school through graduate school are provided. A brief history on government aid for postsecondary education and student loan default is included. Publications and other ways that can help students make career decisions are identified. A plan for meeting tuition,…

A step-by-step guide to paying for college is presented that tells how and where to apply for financial aid, lists expenses at 3,200 schools and colleges, and shows how to estimate financial need. The book also describes how a student can manage money more effectively in order to live on a limited budget; tells how some students and families…

The guide describes federal student financial aid programs and how to apply for them. First, general steps for finding out about financial aid are outlined. General information on student aid from the United States Department of Education is then provided, including explanations of student eligibility requirements, financial need, dependency…

A guide to the family contribution (FC) for federal student financial aid programs is presented. Information is provided on the steps of the U.S. Department of Education's version of the Uniform Methodology (UM), the system most frequently used by need analysis services and financial aid administrators to determine the family's ability to…

Advice for foreign students about postsecondary education in the United States is presented. An overview of U.S. education covers postsecondary levels, accreditation, the academic year, and courses and grades. Steps that should be taken before applying for admission include using existing information, selecting programs and institutions, and…