Category Archives: Student debt

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 →
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 →
admissions, college guidance, college planning, financial aid, parenting, Resources, Student debt, student loans

How to Help Your Teen Make the Final College Decision: A Parent’s Guide

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final college decision

The May 1 decision deadline is approaching and you and your student are carefully weighing your final college decision options:

  • Do you choose the least expensive college, but not the first choice?
  • Do you choose the college that costs more because it’s their first choice, knowing you are creating financial difficulties for your family?
  • Do you play it safe and commit to the college that gives the most aid, even though it was one of the “safe” ones on the list?
  • Do you take a deep breath and jump at the dream college, hoping you will find a way to pay for it?

Those were my family’s choices twenty years ago and although it was difficult for my daughter to accept, we learned some lessons along the way that might help you as the May 1 deadline approaches.

Continue reading How to Help Your Teen Make the Final College Decision: A Parent’s Guide →
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 →
college costs, college guidance, college planning, financial planning, parenting, Student debt

Is College Worth It? A Parent’s Guide to College ROI and Cost

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is college worth it

If you’ve found yourself Googling “Is college worth it?” or “college ROI vs student debt,” you’re not alone.

As 2026 approaches, more parents and students are asking important questions. As college costs keep rising, parents nationwide are searching for answers about college ROI, student loan debt, and whether a degree still offers long-term value. For families with college-bound teens, understanding the true cost of college, and what return you can realistically expect, has become one of the most crucial financial decisions parents will make.

Let’s honestly discuss what “return on investment” truly means when it comes to college and how parents can evaluate it without turning the process into a math problem that takes away the joy of this milestone.

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admissions, financial aid, parenting, Student debt

When Your Teen Gets Into Their Dream College—But You Can’t Afford It

dream college
Image by Carla Bosteder from Pixabay

When my daughter opened the email, I saw the joy light up her face. Congratulations! She got in. She did it. Her dream college, the one she had been talking about for years, was offering her a spot.

For a moment, everything felt perfect.

I let myself soak in her excitement. I hugged her tightly. I even let myself imagine what it would be like—move-in day, walking around that beautiful campus, wearing the school sweatshirt with pride. I thought about all the years of hard work, the late-night study sessions, the endless applications, the moments of doubt she had overcome. This was supposed to be it.

Then, the financial aid package arrived.

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FAFSA, financial aid, Student debt, student loans

Will the Funding Freeze Impact Federal Direct Loans and Pell Grants?

funding freeze
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

There has been a fury of panic over the last several weeks as students and families received the news of federal funding freeze. Students all over Reddit were having meltdowns fearing they would not be able to finish college without this funding. That is not the case.

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financial planning, Student debt, student loans

Tips for Finding the Best Student Loan

student loan
Image by 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay

For many students across the country, taking out a student loan is the only way they can afford to get the education they want and need.

While other options, like scholarships or financial aid, are available for students meeting the criteria for others whose parents can help them or can’t cover the entire four-year tuition, student loans can bridge the gap and are a necessary evil.

However, not all student loans are the same. Understanding the financial agreement you’re signing up for and knowing how to find the best student loans can empower you, giving you the control to avoid some of the common pitfalls of student loans and make more informed decisions. So here goes.

Continue reading Tips for Finding the Best Student Loan →
financial aid, financial planning, Student debt, student loans

Exploring the Various Types of Government Student Loans

government student loans

Government student loans play a significant role in providing financial assistance to students who aspire to achieve their academic goals.

Education is a key investment in one’s future, and for many students, financing their education becomes a crucial aspect of pursuing higher studies. With so much confusion these days over which government loans are best and what the difference is, I felt it was time to simplify it for you and create a list along with the specifics on each.

Following are the various types of government student loans available to students in the United States.

Continue reading Exploring the Various Types of Government Student Loans →