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The Best Student Loans: How to Borrow Smarter

The College Pod

So, if you find you can't afford college without some amount of loans, it’s important to consider how much you borrow because you’ll have to pay it back later, with interest. Think of student loans as a double-edged sword. Federal Student Loans Federal student loans are usually the best place to start when borrowing for college.

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Beyond Sticker Shock: Helping Families See the True Cost of College

Ruffaloni

Source: 2024 Prospective Family Engagement Report But what does this mean for colleges and universities, and how can they help families look beyond the sticker shock to understand the true affordability of a degree? Families share this loan anxiety 73% of families with loan concerns reported ruling out institutions based on sticker price.

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What is the FAFSA: A Complete Guide for Parents

The College Pod

Understanding how to get college financial aid can be confusing, especially for parents. The US Department of Education revamped the FAFSA for the 2024-25 academic school year to make this process less painful. In many cases, colleges use the FAFSA to award both need-based and merit-based aid.

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How to Choose An Affordable College: 10 Key Factors to Consider

The College Pod

If loans are necessary, financial experts believe you should not borrow more than your child’s expected starting salary post-graduation. Student loan calculators can project monthly payments and loan payoff timelines, which vary by loan size, interest rates, and repayment terms.

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UPenn Financial Aid: Everything You Need to Know

AdmissionSight

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) offers generous, need-based financial aid packages to cover 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need. What sets UPenn apart is its commitment to meeting this need without relying on loans, meaning you can graduate debt-free if you qualify. Whether youre a U.S.

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The Hidden Crisis in College Planning: What’s Happening to Middle-Income Families

Ruffaloni

They’re too “wealthy” for significant financial aid but not wealthy enough to write a check without breaking a sweat. Among middle-income families: 71% report loan concerns actively impacting college selection. ” 87% rank financial aid among their top five decision factors.

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What is Student Aid Index (SAI)?

The College Pod

The Student Aid Index (SAI) is an essential concept in the world of financial aid for college. It replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) starting with the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ). What Is the Student Aid Index? What Is the Student Aid Index?