Saving Early for College

Saving Early = Saving Smart!

WHY

It's never too early to start saving money for college. Here are a few reasons to start saving now:

Rising College Costs

Be prepared to handle rising college costs by saving early and consistently! Visit the FinAid website to get an estimate of what college will cost by the time your child is ready to attend.

Benefit of Savings

No matter how little you save, every cent makes a difference in affording your child's higher education. Develop realistic savings goals and save regularly by placing aside a set amount at a set time. For example, if you save $7 per week (a dollar a day) in an account that earns 5% interest, you will accrue more than $9,600 at the end of 17 years.

Less Debt, More Investment

Many families have to rely on student loans to cover college costs. Saving for college now can reduce your need for a loan in the future. Earn interest by opening a savings account today versus paying interest on a loan later. The best graduation gift you can give your child is to leave college debt-free!

HOW

The following resources can help you prepare to pay for college:

Prepaid tuition and college savings plans (known as 529 plans) offer tax-free withdrawals for college expenses. To learn more about these plans, visit the College Saving Plans website.

The U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid provides over $100 billion in federal aid in the form of grants, work-study programs, and loans to students who qualify. Visit the FASFA Caster website to get an estimate of the amount of federal aid your child could receive if you applied today.

For more information about federal aid for college, visit the Federal Student Aid website.