Category: College Costs


7 ways to save money on college textbooks

Posted on October 2nd, 2014

As college students know, buying textbooks can add thousands of dollars to your college bill before you’ve even taken a class.

While textbooks are often a ‘necessary evil,’ they don’t have to put you even further into debt.

Watch this video from WWLP, and read our tips below for 7 ways to save money on college textbooks.

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5 ways to reduce college costs while kids are still in high school

Posted on September 18th, 2014

Reducing college costs doesn’t just happen once the kids have already been accepted. Planning early is the best way to reduce your college costs later on.

In this video from THV11 News, Little Rock Family Magazine editor Heather Bennett shares her five best to reduce college costs while your student is still in high school.

Check out our tips and watch the video to find out more.

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The economic value of college majors

Posted on September 12th, 2014

"Today’s college students, then, need to choose a major that maximizes their chances of graduating, and minimizes their chances of ending up in that bottom 25 percent, where they would have been better off skipping college, at least financially." -- Ben Casselman

While the return on value of a college degree is at an all-time high, according to a recent analysis by FiveThirtyEight, not all degrees are created equal. As we’ve written, the return on investment of a college degree depends on many factors, including the field of study, student’s debt level, and what the graduate does with […]

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Purdue president calls on colleges to reduce costs

Posted on August 25th, 2014

"Instead of asking our students' families to adjust their budgets to our spending, let's try to adjust our spending to their budgets for a while." -- Mitch Daniels

College costs have gotten out of control, but rarely do you hear a college administrator take responsibility for rising costs. Instead, they announce tuition increases with promises that they’ve “increased financial aid.” But Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University, isn’t like most college administrators. In a recent appearance on CNBC, he blamed colleges themselves for […]

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7 ways to reduce college costs

Posted on July 23rd, 2014

"You may not have any spare jewels lying around to pay for Junior's higher ed. (No, gumball rings don't count.) But if you're willing to get creative and consider alternative approaches, you can cut some or even all the big expenses." -- Lou Carlozo

College costs are rising, but it doesn’t mean there’s no way to avoid taking out excessive student debt in order to finance your education. Here are 7 ways to reduce college costs from the Christian Science Monitor.  1. Attend a zero-tuition college Believe it or not, there are still a few colleges that charge nothing […]

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The calls for free college are getting louder

Posted on July 22nd, 2014

"The people who are struggling to pay for college today go way beyond poor people. There’s a need for a universal program." -- Sara Goldrick-Rab

With college costs reaching record levels and still rising, the idea of free college might sound like a pipe dream. Some colleges offer free tuition to the very top students, but these scholarships are extremely competitive. And even with financial aid, most students usually end up paying large amounts for college and taking out student loans. […]

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Cost of college tops $60,000 at 50 colleges

Posted on July 11th, 2014

It’s no secret that college tuition has risen dramatically over the past two decades. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2013–2014 school year was $30,094 at private colleges.

But the news that 50 colleges now charge more than $60,000 per year, according to Business Insider, makes that $30,000 bill look like a bargain.

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Not going to college costs $830,000

Posted on July 3rd, 2014

"This evidence tells us that the value of a college education rises over a worker's life." -- Mary C. Daly and Leila Bengali

We’ve stressed that a college degree is a good investment despite its high cost. Now, we know exactly how much it’s worth: an extra $830,000 in your pocket, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. College grads earn 61% more per year According to the study, college graduates earned on average about $20,050 (61%) more […]

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“Freakonomics” author talks higher education

Posted on June 24th, 2014

"The more knowledge you acquire, the better you will do. But it doesn’t mean the college track is right, especially when you’re overpaying." -- Stephen Dubner

Is a college degree worth the cost? Should everyone go to college? In the video below from CNN Money, “Freakomics” author and journalist Stephen Dubner answers these questions about higher education and offers his take on the rising cost of college. Dubner says that, overall, getting a college degree pays off over time. If, however, […]

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The history of the college tuition scam

Posted on June 17th, 2014

The cost of college has risen 1,200 percent over the last 30 years, far faster than the price of any other good the government tracks, including food, housing, cars, gasoline, and TVs.

In a fantastic article recently published in Salon, Thomas Frank explains what led the country to a point where the price of college has become out of reach for many Americans.

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