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Articles for Parents

Student Loan Comparison Guide

Paying for higher education is a major financial decision, and for many families, student loans are a necessary part of the journey. But the types of student loans vary in cost, flexibility and borrower protections. Learn how federal, state-based and for-profit loans really differ.

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Are Private Student Loans Really That Bad?

Many people have heard warnings about private student loans, with concerns about high interest rates, difficult repayment terms and lack of protections compared to federal student loans. But are private student loans really as bad as they're made out to be?

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9 Things Student Loan Cosigners Need to Know

Parents, guardians, relatives or other trusted people can help a student qualify for a loan or lower interest rate, but it’s important to know exactly what to expect. See the answers to nine frequently asked questions about cosigning a student loan.

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Resources for College Planning

Many parents and students know they should make a plan for college or other options after high school, but knowing exactly where and how to start is another issue. Here are some common questions and the resources to help you answer them.

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Should I Refinance My Parent PLUS Loans?

Parent PLUS loans are often "packaged" into students' financial aid offers. Is refinancing them right for you?

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How to Get a Student Loan

When borrowing for college, researching options and knowing what to expect can help ensure responsible borrowing for college.

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Choosing a College: Consider Costs

Cost of attendance is often the biggest factor in choosing a college, but the affordability of any particular college or university can be difficult to determine.

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Parents, Plan Ahead for Scholarships

Although most college scholarship applications are limited to incoming or current college students, you can help your younger student take several steps now to prepare for scholarship applications later.

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8 Ways to Start the College Conversation

It may feel like your child just headed off to the first day of school, but time passes quickly and now is the time to plan for high school and beyond.

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What Parents Need to Know About College Applications

As you prepare to help your child through the college application process, keep these tips in mind.

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Checklist for Parents of High Schoolers

As the number of high school years wane for your student, preparation for the next step should be picking up. Use these checklists to help your child plan for college.

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Helping Your Student Choose a College

Selecting colleges with the right fit can be overwhelming as high school juniors and seniors start the college application process. Here are five ways to explore different types of college campuses.

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Parent PLUS Loan Features, Benefits and Drawbacks: What You Need to Know

Before applying for a parent PLUS loan, carefully consider its features, benefits and drawbacks.

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Understanding Cost of College Attendance

Learn exactly what the cost of attendance means. If you have started the process of preparing for your child's college career, you may have run into several things that have you confused – and maybe a few that have you nervous.

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Get Organized for College Prep

Here are some items for you and your high school senior to look over each month from March to the start of freshman year of college.

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How Working Can Help Your College Student

The financial, networking and training benefits of working part-time while in college can seem pretty obvious. What may not be so obvious is how working part-time during the academic year can also boost a student's grades.

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Know Which Student Loans Are Right for You

Learn about the different types of student loans, both federal and private, to help choose the best option for your financial situation.

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5 Things Parents Should Know About Financial Aid Offers

Before accepting a college admission, it's important you take a look and ensure the offered financial aid is right for your family's situation.

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Parents: What You Should Know Before Applying for a Student Loan

Before filling out loan applications or accepting student loans, consider future repayment and whether you or your student is going to be responsible for making payments.

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Student Loan Basics: What Parents and Cosigners Need to Know

Are you ready to be financially liable? If you are considering taking on a federal parent loan or cosigning a private student loan with your student, consider these important points.

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The Graduation Checklist for Parents

This milestone for your student can mean a lot of work for you. Use this checklist to bring some order to the chaos.

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Parents' Guide to College Prep

Knowing your student is prepared can help ease your anxiety as they prepare to move away. Use these tips to help ensure they're ready for daily life on their own.

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Know the Difference: Types of Financial Aid

The variety of college funding sources often leads to confusion as students and parents plan for college. This financial aid primer can help you sort out and compare financial aid options.

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What Your Financial Aid Offer Doesn't Tell You

Don't forget to plan for expenses like these when estimating your cost of college attendance. Having a clear idea of all your expenses upfront will allow you to better plan how you will pay for college.

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Understanding Your Financial Aid Offer

While college acceptance letters are often exciting, the arrival of financial aid offers can be confusing. Keep these five things in mind as you review your financial aid offers to limit stress.

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Tool Helps Borrowers Make Good Decisions About Loans

The College Funding Forecaster is a free, online tool designed to help borrowers make good decisions about borrowing student loans.

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Reasons for Getting Involved

Opportunities to become involved in extracurricular activities, athletics, and work activities abound. Here are nine reasons high school students should take advantage of at least a few of those opportunities.

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Building Time Management Skills

Students of all ages need good time management skills to balance school, homework, activities, family responsibilities and just having fun.

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Understanding Student Aid

An integral part of the college financial aid process is the Student Aid Index, or SAI. This number is the basis for the amount of financial aid made available to a student.

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6 Ways to Help Your Student Save

How can you help your student maximize savings so you don't end up draining your retirement resources to help them out?

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5 Ways to Prepare for College Financing in Middle School

College may seem a long way off when your student is in middle school, but it's time to start preparing to pay for education after high school. Use these tips to help you.

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Reading for Success

Even with modern technology and the changing pace of the world, reading — and understanding the text — still plays an integral role in success in college and career.

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12 Benefits of a College Savings Plan

Saving for your children's college educations can be stressful, but it can also be one of the best things you can do to help ensure they have a solid financial start.

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3 Budget Basics for Middle Schoolers

You can help your middle school child set a strong financial foundation with these three budget basics.

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Checkup for College Accounts

It's a good idea to revisit your progress on college savings at least once a year. Here are a few to-dos to ensure accounts set aside for college expenses are on track.

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Scholarship Tips for Parents

Most college scholarship applications are limited to incoming or current college students, but if your student is younger, you can still help with some early steps.

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Exploring Careers with Your Student

This step-by-step guide can help you and your student explore available careers and decide on possible choices that suit his or her interests.

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It's Time to Have "The Talk"

How will your student know what to do in a life situation if you don't talk about it beforehand?

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Save Now or Pay More Later

When planning for education after high school, saving instead of borrowing for college has one simple but very important advantage: It will cost you less money.

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Understanding Loans: Supplemental Private Student Loans

What is a private student loan exactly? Learn about cosigners, interest rates, fees, and benefits, in addition to interest charges and repayment plans.

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Understanding Loans: Reduce Loan Costs

The easiest way to reduce any student loan costs is by eliminating loans completely or by borrowing a minimal amount. Here's how you can reduce your need for student loans.

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Understanding Loans: Credit Scores and Loans

Learn the importance of credit scores and how they affect student loan interest rates. Don't forget about the impact of poor credit.

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Understanding Loans: Student Loans and Interest

Student loans are different than car loans and mortgages because the majority of student loans allow you to defer repayment while you're attending school on at least a half-time basis.

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