If you’re a parent, you’ve probably already noticed that tuition and fees don’t look anything like they did when you were in school. And if you’re a student, you may already be concerned about how you’ll pay for your education.

The truth is, college costs are going up, and they’re going up faster than most people’s income. However, the good news is that if you understand what’s driving these costs and plan ahead, you can prepare to pay a reasonable amount and avoid being caught off guard.

Families across the country are about to feel the impact of something that’s happening behind the scenes in Washington, D.C. The federal government is cutting back on how much money it gives to help students pay for college, and those cuts could make college more expensive for everyone, especially low- and middle-income families.

Avoiding college scholarship scams is crucial for students and families trying to find legitimate financial help. What we want to cover today is to cover ideas on how to protect yourself from being scammed by companies asking you for personal information in order to win or apply for college scholarships.

If you or your child plans to borrow federal student loans for college in the future, things are about to change in a big way. The new law, often called the One Big Beautiful Bill, makes some of the biggest changes to student loans in decades.

These new rules mostly apply to loans starting on or after July 1, 2026, so current students may still have time under the old system. But families with younger students need to prepare now.

If you or your child plans to borrow federal student loans for college in the future, things are about to change in a big way. The new law, often referred to as the Big Beautiful Bill, introduces some of the most significant changes to student loans in decades.

These new rules mostly apply to loans starting on or after July 1, 2026, so current students may still have time under the old system. But families with younger students need to prepare now.

Educational tax credits are programs from the IRS that can reduce the amount of money you owe in federal income taxes if you’re paying for college. These credits help families lower their tax bill and potentially receive a refund simply by sending their child to college and paying for expenses such as tuition, qualified books, and fees.

When it comes to protecting your money on the CSS Profile to get the most financial aid from colleges, what we discussed so far applies only to the FAFSA. The CSS Profile is a separate form used by many private colleges to award their own (institutional) aid, and it treats assets and income much more strictly. Here are the key differences you’ll see on the CSS Profile.

When it's time to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), many parents worry that having money saved may hurt their child’s chances of receiving financial aid for college. The truth is, the FAFSA does look at your income and certain assets (like bank accounts and investments), but there are smart ways to legally protect or "shelter" some of those assets, so they don’t count against you.