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After months of waiting to hear back from their college picks, not every student finds a thick admissions package in the mailbox welcoming them to the school. Being waitlisted or flat out rejected from a college can be difficult for students to handle, but increased early decision and general admissions applications have made colleges more selective. Considering the hyper-competitive college application environment, admissions outcomes can be very tough to predict and in turn, students shouldn’t focus on a single “dream” college but build a list of several schools where they feel they could be happy and engaged, recommends Sally Rubenstone, [...]

Future college students looking at a difficult job market and staggering student loan debt levels may be rethinking the value of a degree, especially as colleges continue to increase overall costs. According to the College Board, the overall average cost to attend an in-state public college for the 2012-13 academic year for students who don’t receive any financial aid rose 3.8% to a record $ 22,261, with tuition accounting for about half of that increase.  The report also shows that public university tuition and fees alone rose 4.8% to $ 8,655 and climbed 4.2% at four-year private schools to an [...]

Growing up is tough enough without the worries of your financial future, so Money101  is here for you. E-mail us your questions and let us take off some of the pressure. It’s tough being a college student or recent grad in the current economic environment: not only are they taking on increasing amounts of student loan debt, college and universities are raising their costs at a time the job market outlook is still uncertain. Campus Grotto’s publication of the latest tuition numbers for the 2012-2013 school year show that for the first time ever, one college’s price tag has passed the [...]

School’s in session, orientations are over and you’re throwing out the last of your moving boxes. The realities of college life are starting to sink in. Other than the occasional supermarket circular or sheet of pizza-delivery coupons, nothing much shows up in the mailbox downstairs. But one day an envelope arrives. It’s stamped with phrases like “pre-approved” or “free rewards inside.” After scanning the offer inside, you fill out the application form and send it back. When your credit card comes, it’s like a golden ticket. You pick some things out at a store, hand the card to the cashier [...]

Students who experience a change in their financial circumstances mid-year may be eligible to receive more institutional aid based on their school and their situation. When applying for federal financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students and their families must submit last year’s tax information, but given the current economic fluctuations, that data may not reflect their current income.  “If I’m looking at last year and both of my parents were employed but in the current year when I’m going to be attending college, one or both of my parents have been laid off, clearly [...]

When it comes to teaching a child about money, the old adage is true—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In 2010, the average grad of a four-year public college had $ 22,000 in student loan debt and $ 28,000 for private four-year colleges and universities, according to the College Board. Before a child starts college, parents should discuss who’s going to pay tuition. “If the parent has decided that the child doesn’t have to contribute, you need to have that discussion and explain why,” says Scott Halliwell, certified financial planner at USAA. This will help engage [...]

Welcome to OnSale at Business, where we look at cool stuff and insane bargains. The makers of the Fitbit Ultra have two new ways to help you keep your fitness goals on track. A new offer for Time Warner Cable Internet customers means free TV. This big toy store has a great deal for kids who love to listen to music – and parents will love it, too. And students and researchers will love this free new tool. A Bit More Fit Fitbit, the fitness tool that brought us the Ultra for activity and sleep tracking, now has two new [...]

Even some of the smartest college students don’t make the grade when it comes to handling their credit cards, and it remains to be seen whether the new credit card regulations affect the learning curve. Under the new rules, issuers cannot market credit cards on campus, and they can’t let students open accounts unless they can prove they have sufficient income to pay the bills or get adults to cosign. If you do cosign for your child, be aware that your credit is at stake. Any mistakes your student makes appear on your credit report as well, and ultimately you [...]

As colleges struggle to regain their footing after the prolonged economic downturn decreased endowments, foreign students seeking to study in the U.S. are becoming increasingly attractive candidates for universities.  “International students are often willing and prepared to pay full tuition and frequently do so given the lack of financial aid available [to them],” says Kim Gradel, director of  ”Reaching goals for the academic quality of students and enrollment numbers are also motivations for many institutions.”  According to a 2011 study conducted by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and [...]

Extra-long sheets—check. Shower caddy—check. Meal plan—check. Credit card….. As incoming freshmen and their families prepare for their college journey, many parents will be handing their kid a credit card for the first time. Some cards may come with strict use rules like “only for emergencies” while others are more relaxed with “just don’t crazy, honey.” No matter the severity of the spending guidelines, parents need to institute clear rules and expectations so students establish good fiscal and spending habits. A 2009 study from Sallie Mae showed that the average freshman owed $ 2,038 on credit cards, while the average senior [...]