College

College is a time of new found freedom for many students. But that can spell trouble if that freedom applies to personal finances too. Students need to understand basic money management skills such as living within a budget and handling credit and debt. A solid financial foundation can lead to a lifetime of financial success.

Articles
Budgeting Basics
	Freshman Finance 101: Money Management Skills for College students
Choosing a College
	Research tips when choosing a college
	The college application process
Credit and Debt
	College students and credit cards: What you don’t know can hurt you
Going to College as an Adult
	Going back to school as an adult
Insurance Issues
	Insurance Check-up for College Bound Students
Paying for College
	ABCs of financial aid
	Can I afford to send my child to college?
	Finding money to pay college bills out of pocket
	Making the Most of College Tax Breaks
	Saving for retirement and a child's education at the same time
	Saving on College Housing Costs
	Sticker shock--creative ways to lower the cost of college
	Student loan basics
	Student Loan Collection Efforts
	The best ways to save for college
	The Higher Education Opportunity Act
Preparing for college
	Factors That May Give You the Edge Over Other College Candidates
	Helping your child make the transition from high school to college
	Saving on College Housing Costs
	Tip Getting into College
	Tips for Filling Out and Sending In Your Financial Aid Applications
	What Your Child Should Bring to College
Tools
	Basic Financial Calculator
	Checkbook Balancer
FAQs
Financial Aid
	Are my student loan payments tax deductible?
	Can I open a 529 account in anticipation of my future grandchild?
	Can I refinance my student loan?
	Financial Aid FAQs: How to make college a reality
	How will I ever pay off my student loans?
	I'm having trouble paying my student loans. What should I do?
	Is student loan interest deductible?
	What's a credit score and why should I care about it?
	Will the current credit crunch impact my child's ability to get a student loan for college?
Selecting and applying to a college
	How many colleges should my child apply to?
	How should my child go about selecting a college?
	When are college applications due?

The 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy Web site offers general information for managing personal finances and does not recommend specific financial actions. For financial advice tailored to your situation, please contact an expert such as a CPA or a personal financial advisor.

Are you taking fewer vacations this summer than last summer?
Yes
No
Unsure
If planning a summer vacation, which savings tactics might you employ?
Spending more time researching the internet for money-saving deals
Booking a condo or beach house instead of a hotel
Cooking meals yourself instead of eating out
Buying food and beverages at the grocery store to cut down on vacation expenses
Whether or not you’re planning to travel for your vacation, which of these money-saving summer activities do you plan on taking part in?
Visiting local landmarks or tourist attractions to save on travel expenses
Enjoying time in your yard and/or garden
Grilling out on your deck or at the park
Visiting a local swimming pool or lake