Paying for College

If you need further proof that college in America has become more like big business, look no further than the emergence of “differential tuition” over the past decade. Differential tuition, as I explain in College Secrets, is a pricing structure...

When socializing with friends in college, a couple of fun nights out here and there or a few extracurricular activities every semester may seem like a good idea at the time – but they can quickly put a dent in...

No matter which higher education institution you choose to attend, you’ll do better if you plan ahead — and ask the right questions — in order to get the maximum college financial aid. “The first question to ask a school...

The average college student spends about $765 to dine off-campus, according to Student Monitor. It’s all too easy to overspend when many restaurants and eateries in college areas let students pay just by swiping their school ID cards. There’s another...

The National Retail Federation’s Back to College survey reveals that spending on dorm and apartment furnishings is on the rise. Two in five families (about 42%) spent an average $105 on new bedding, small refrigerators and microwaves. For some families,...

About 60% of college students buy a new computer, MP3 player, smart phone or other device. If you go all out, and get a new flat screen TV or other electronics for a dorm room, your costs can quickly skyrocket....

If you’ve figured out a way to pay for a slew of upfront college expenses – like tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies – you might think most of the spending you’ll need for higher education is over. Sadly,...

College students often complain about the high price of college textbooks. Plenty of parents decry these costs too – because it’s the parents who often get an 11th hour call from a son or daughter who needs money or a...

Picture for a moment a world in which students attending college would get all their textbooks completely free. Does it seem like a pipe dream? Well, it’s a lot closer to reality than you might suspect — and not just...

Room and board at colleges and universities nationwide is awfully expensive, in the range of 8,145 to $11,745 per year, according to data from the College Board. So what’s a student to do to slash some of these costs –...

What is your image of what a college lifestyle is supposed to be, especially college housing? In decades past, students hunkered down in bunk beds, most often with two to four people in a tiny room, and gladly ate ramen...

Room and board expenses at public four-year colleges now average $9,804 nationwide, more than the average tuition and fee charges of $9,139 at public institutions, according to the latest data available from the College Board. That trend — of housing...

Q: I am considering going to grad school and am clueless re:  what steps are needed to get started, hidden costs and fees, the procedures and requirements for enrollment and other pertinent information. I am currently unemployed and need all of...

And you thought tuition was bad enough! If you don’t want exorbitant college fees to drive you into the poorhouse, make sure you bone up on all the fees and other charges you or your child might face while earning...

Tuition and fees are often lumped together on college bills. But just like you should know all the “extras” you’re paying for when you buy a car, so too should you be aware of all the additional fees that are...