What College Really Costs

by U S NEWS AND WORLD REPORT

• ISBN13: 9781402203411
• ISBN10: 1402203411
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-02-01
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc

Summary

With college costs continuing to rise at an alarming rate, more and more parents and students are finding that the funds they've earmarked for college are coming up short. New from the education experts at U.S. News & World Report comes the complete guide to understanding the college financing maze and solving the problem of how to pay for it all. What College Really Costs explains the ins and outs of the myriad higher education financing vehicles and reveals the creative ways people are reducing their tuition bills. In clear language and with a focus on practical information parents can use, the education experts at America's most reputed college evaluator explain: -The basics of the college financial aid process -The truth about where the free money is and how to nab that sought-after scholarship -Long-term financing strategies, including tax-advantaged savings accounts (529s), prepaid tuition plans and more -Last-minute strategies for parents and students -Plus full appendices listing the key details of every state's 529 savings plan and indices showing you which schools offer the best value and the most free money-and where students graduate with the least debt burden

Author Biography

Founded in 1933, Washington, D.C.-based U.S. News and World Report delivers a unique brand of weekly magazine journalism to its 12.2 million readers. In 1983, U.S. News began its exclusive annual rankings of American colleges and universities. The U.S. News education franchise is second to none; its annual college and graduate school rankings are among the most eagerly anticipated magazine issues in the country. Margaret Mannix, editor, is an assistant managing editor at U.S. News and World Report, where she helps direct the magazine's money and business coverage. She also coordinates the magazine's Paying for College features and was the co-editor of the U.S. News book Paying for College. Robert Morse is the director of data research at U.S. News and World Report. He is in charge of the research, data collection, methodologies, and survey design for the annual "America's Best Colleges" rankings and the "America's Best Graduate Schools" rankings. Jodie T. Allen is managing editor of U.S. News and World Report for money and business and writes the biweekly Funny Money column for the magazine. She was formerly Washington editor for Slate magazine and editor of the Washington Post's Sunday Outlook section and an editorial writer and business columnist for the Post. Brian Kelly is the executive editor of U.S. News and World Report. As the magazine's No. 2 editor, he oversees the weekly magazine, the website, and a series of newsstand books. He is a former editor at the Washington Post and the author of three books.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
Devising a Long-Term Savings Plan	1	(8)
Financial Aid Basics	9	(10)
The Student Loan System	19	(6)
Scholarships and Grants	25	(8)
Work, Work, Work	33	(6)
Comparing Financial Aid Offers	39	(8)
Last-Minute and Alternative Strategies	47	(10)
The Hidden Costs of College	57	(8)
Education Tax Breaks	65	(4)
Nontraditional Students and Circumstances	69	(6)
Finding Money For Graduate School	75	(6)
Payback Time	81	(422)
The U.S. News Insider's Index: How Do Your Schools Compare?	87	(53)
Priciest private schools	89	(6)
Cheapest public schools	95	(7)
Great deals at great schools	102	(4)
Schools that award the largest need-based financial aid packages	106	(13)
Schools that award the largest amounts of need-based scholarships and grants	119	(5)
Schools that give merit-based scholarships and grants to the most students	124	(5)
Schools whose graduates have the most and least debt	129	(11)
The U.S. News & World Report College Cost and Financial Aid Directory
How to Use the Directory	140	(2)
Directory	142	(361)
Index of Schools	503	(14)
About the Authors and Editors	517