Category Archives: financial planning

FAFSA, financial aid, financial planning, paying for college

The 2027–28 FAFSA Is Here: What’s Different This Year?

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2027-28 FAFSA

If you’ve filled out the FAFSA in the past, you may be wondering:

What’s actually different about this year’s FAFSA?

The 2027–28 FAFSA is now available, and while it isn’t the dramatic overhaul we saw when the FAFSA was redesigned a few years ago, there are several changes parents and students should know about.

The U.S. Department of Education says the latest updates are designed to make the form easier to understand, reduce errors and rejected applications, and make the process smoother for families.

If you’re a parent of a high school senior applying to college for fall 2027, here’s what you need to know before you start.

Continue reading The 2027–28 FAFSA Is Here: What’s Different This Year? →
FAFSA, financial aid, financial planning, paying for college

The 2027–28 FAFSA Is Open: What Parents Need to Know Before Filing

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If you have a high school senior heading to college in fall 2027, it’s time to add one more important item to your college-planning checklist: the FAFSA is open.

Yes, already.

The 2027–28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available. This is the FAFSA students will use to apply for financial aid for the 2027–28 academic year, which runs from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028.

If you’re a parent who has been through the FAFSA process before, you may be thinking, Didn’t we just do this?

Pretty much. The FAFSA is something families generally complete every year a student wants to be considered for federal financial aid.

And if this is your first time, don’t panic. The process can feel intimidating, but getting organized before you begin can make it much easier.

Continue reading The 2027–28 FAFSA Is Open: What Parents Need to Know Before Filing →
college costs, financial planning, Guest Posts, Student debt, student loans

Your Parent PLUS Loan Is Capped—Here’s the Lever Parents Can Still Pull

parent plus loan

If you’re using the Parent PLUS loan to plan your finances around your student’s college this fall, you’ll notice the new upper limit that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act now enforces.

As we covered when the hard caps took effect, from July 1, 2026, onward, the bill limits borrowing to $20,000 per student per year, with a total limit of $65,000 per student over the course of the whole degree.

The change will become apparent once the 2027-28 FAFSA opens on October 1, and it’s worth starting to plan for it already.

Our earlier piece delves into how you can find more sources of money for college, including scholarships, aid appeals, borrowing conservatively, and net price comparisons.

Here, we’ll look at a complementary strategy: how you can reduce the amount you have to pay for your student’s college fees.

Continue reading Your Parent PLUS Loan Is Capped—Here’s the Lever Parents Can Still Pull →
financial aid, financial planning, Guest Posts, Student debt, student loans

Managing College Debt: Student Loans and Retirement Goals

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Your child gets into a college they love. Then you open the financial aid offer and realize how much the family would still need to borrow.

Before accepting those loans, decide what you can contribute while keeping up with essential bills and retirement savings. Leave emergency money available. Your child needs a clear budget, including how much debt each of you could reasonably repay, before the family commits to the school.

For U.S. families considering loans for the 2026–27 academic year, that conversation also needs to account for new Parent PLUS borrowing limits and repayment restrictions.

Continue reading Managing College Debt: Student Loans and Retirement Goals →
college planning, financial aid, financial planning, student loans

Federal Student Loan Changes: What Parents Need to Know in 2026

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federal student loan changes

Paying for college has never been simple, and recent changes to federal student loan programs have made it even more important for families to understand their options before borrowing.

Whether you’re a parent considering a Parent PLUS Loan or a student preparing to accept federal loans, knowing what’s changed can help you make smarter financial decisions that could save thousands of dollars over the life of a loan.

Here are the most important federal student loan changes families should know.

Continue reading Federal Student Loan Changes: What Parents Need to Know in 2026 →
college guidance, college planning, college prep, financial planning, parenting, scholarships

How to Win College Scholarships: A Parent’s Review of Monica Matthews’ Scholarship Guide

how to win college scholarships

There are very few things that get me more excited than finding a resource that can help families save money on college. After years of helping parents navigate the college admissions process, I know one thing is true: paying for college is one of the biggest sources of stress for families.

Whether you’ve been saving since your child was born or you’re wondering how you’ll make college affordable, every scholarship dollar matters. Every scholarship your student earns is one less dollar you’ll have to borrow, pay out of pocket, or worry about later.

That’s why I was so impressed with Monica Matthews’ How to Win College Scholarships: A Guide for Parents in 10 Easy Steps.

What I love most about Monica is that she’s one of us: a parent who walked this road herself. She wasn’t a financial aid expert or scholarship consultant when she started. She was simply a mom with a college-bound son and a determination to find a way to make his education affordable without taking on overwhelming debt.

Continue reading How to Win College Scholarships: A Parent’s Review of Monica Matthews’ Scholarship Guide →
college costs, college planning, FAFSA, financial aid, financial planning, Resources

25 Colleges That Offer Full-Ride Financial Aid Based on Family Income (2026 Guide)

full-ride financial aid

If you’re worried that your family’s income is too low to afford college, here’s some encouraging news: many colleges now guarantee free tuition—or even a completely free education—for students whose families fall below certain income thresholds.

These programs are different from merit scholarships. Instead of rewarding grades or test scores alone, they’re designed to make college affordable based on financial need.

The best part? Some colleges cover tuition only, while others provide full-ride financial aid that includes tuition, housing, meals, books, and even personal expenses.

If you’re creating your college list, these schools deserve a close look.

Continue reading 25 Colleges That Offer Full-Ride Financial Aid Based on Family Income (2026 Guide) →
financial aid, financial planning, in the news, Student debt, student loans

How the One Big Beautiful Bill Changes the Way Families Pay for College in 2026

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one big beautiful bill

For years, many families relied on federal student loans to bridge the gap between financial aid and the true cost of college. If scholarships, grants, savings, and federal student loans weren’t enough, parents often turned to Parent PLUS Loans to cover the remaining balance.

That strategy is about to change.

Starting on July 1, 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces the most significant changes to federal student loans in decades. While many headlines have focused on new loan limits and repayment plans, the real story is how these changes will affect the way families plan, budget, and pay for college.

If you have a child entering college in the next few years, now is the time to rethink your college financing strategy.

Continue reading How the One Big Beautiful Bill Changes the Way Families Pay for College in 2026 →
college costs, college guidance, college planning, financial planning

4 Smart Ways to Pay for College

pay for college

It is never too early to start planning for college expenses. Going to college is an important step to level up your children’s academic journey and career prospects, and it can play a major role in their social life and approach to the world. 

However, college comes with high costs: according to estimations, the average cost of college in the United States is $38,270 per student per year! In this guide, we’ll look at ways to prepare your finances for such an important step and give four smart ways to pay for college.

Continue reading 4 Smart Ways to Pay for College →
FAFSA, financial aid, financial planning, merit aid, Resources, Student debt, student loans

Financial Aid Explained for Parents: FAFSA, Student Loans, Grants, Merit Aid & Award Letters

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For many families, understanding financial aid feels more stressful than the college application process itself. Between unfamiliar terminology, changing FAFSA rules, and confusing award letters, parents often struggle to determine what college will actually cost.

This guide breaks down how financial aid works, what each type of aid means, and how parents can confidently compare college offers.

Continue reading Financial Aid Explained for Parents: FAFSA, Student Loans, Grants, Merit Aid & Award Letters →