College Money Matters

One of the first really serious financial decisions that students have to make is how to pay for their college education. The current level of student debt shows how woefully unprepared parents and students are to understand the implications of borrowing. To help improve this situation, College Money Matters created a website designed for students and families which walks them through applying and paying for college, using easy to understand stories, articles, podcasts, videos, infographics and simulations. The site is viewed by over 1700 people a week, and has reached 65,000 in the last year. It has been extensively tested on students, so we know it meets their needs.

The website requires no log-in, takes no advertising and is totally free – funded by a group of committed donors.

Many teachers and counselors have told us they wished they had a trusted resource to share with their high school juniors and seniors on how to apply to and pay for college. Curricula do not always work because classroom time is so scarce. College Money Matters provides a trusted resource so students and families can learn on their own time. www.collegemoneymatters.org has both a website and YouTube channel that is designed for, and has been tested on, today’s high school juniors and seniors.

Topics include:

· Applying to College – Keeping college affordable; Smart ways to apply; The different types of colleges, etc.

· Financial Aid & FAFSA – Financial aid can be either free money or a loan; How FAFSA works; Important due dates, etc.

· Paying for College – Using savings; Applying for scholarships & grants; Understanding student loans, etc.

· Before You Decide – Comparing colleges; Calculating the costs of college; Figuring out acceptance letters, etc.

· Parents & Guardians – Paying for your child’s college; Having the family discussion; Co-signing; Parent PLUS loans, etc.

· Student Stories – Students share challenges they faced concerning paying for college, financial aid, choosing a school and other issues.

· Deadlines & Resources – Due dates, expense and loan calculators, helpful and reliable websites, etc.