No matter where you are in the college planning process, one thing is certain: there is an abundance of helpful literature and resources out there to help you reach your savings goal. The real challenge lies in sorting through the available information and determining which resources will be most useful to you.
There are many comprehensive educational websites focused strictly on college planning and saving that you may want to consider:
Collegewithinreach.com
Now that you’re here, we’ll hope you’ll explore our site further. You can learn about the findings of our nationwide “College Within Reach” poll of parents saving for college, peruse our articles for helpful tips on all aspects of the planning and saving process, pose a question to our panel of college savings experts and get additional details on investor friendly saving and investing options – among our site’s many other features.
Collegeboard.com
The College Board provides a wealth of information for parents of prospective college students, including financial calculators, scholarship advice, and guidance on how to select the right school. If you’re looking for a comprehensive look at college cost data and projections, check out the College Board’s annual “Trends in College Pricing” report, which provides an overview of current average costs for a wide range of institutions.
Finaid.org
This online-only resource is dedicated to the process of paying for college. By offering comprehensive information on the types of scholarships, loans, savings plans, and military aid options available, this site is a great place to start to digest the numerous college funding options.
Savingforcollege.com
Backed by financial rate site Bankrate.com, Savingforcollege provides key information on 529 plans and an overview of Coverdell ESA’s, including a useful comparison of the programs’ features and benefits and comprehensive descriptions of 529 plans on a state by state basis. Friendly warning: some content is premium service only, which comes at a steep price.
Collegesavings.org
As a service provided by the National Association of State Treasurers, this site is wholly dedicated to 529 plans. Here you’ll find details on each state’s plan and a tool that lets you compare 529 plans by state. Be sure to consult this website if you’re looking to open a 529 account.
In addition, many well-regarded financial news sites offer valuable articles and tools to help jumpstart the college savings process:
Moneycentral.msn.com/personal-finance (Family/College section)
MSN Money’s section on Family and College Saving provides topical articles and an “Ask the Expert” message board. A real draw is the link to Fastweb.com, which provides a scholarship search function.
Money.cnn.com/pf/college
The most article-rich of the sources detailed here, CNNMoney’s site aggregates college savings material from CNN, Fortune, and Money Magazine.
Finance.yahoo.com/college-education
Encompassing how-to guides, cost calculators, articles, and an expert opinion forum, this site has the most breadth of any of the financial news sites, making it a good starting point.
But don’t stop with what’s available on the Internet. There are resources close to you – in particular, family and friends – who can share their experiences of putting their children through college. Never underestimate the value of talking to people you know about their own insights, and be sure to learn from what worked for them, as well as things that they would have done differently.
Saving for college may seem like a daunting process, but it’s important to keep in mind that you aren’t alone. There are resources to help you at any stage of the process. Check out our article “Laying the Foundation” for more tips on getting started.