There is a wealth of information available. But where do you start? The Best School For You has done some extensive research to locate some of the best sources of information on the Internet. Start with the section most pertinent to your current questions, but read through all of them. It will give you a broad overview of both the most important information and where to find it.
Listings and Statistics
CollegeStats.Org list colleges and universities by cost, size and demographics as well as by “specialty” – Historically Black, Christian, Catholic or Jewish – and “online” schools. Demographics include institutions with the highest percentages of men, women and minorities. Additionally, schools can be listed by state or by degree subject or type or by choosing campus & online, online or traditional campus. There is also a choice of listing accredited online colleges in a number of categories. The site is very well organized and easily navigated. However, most of the information is from 2007; so be aware that you need to go to the individual college websites, or some of the websites below, for more current information.
Excellent Overview with Useful Links
College Education Cost provides an excellent overview article along with numerous links for college education resources to help you make an informed choice in financing your education. These include such subjects as the average cost of a college education to financial aid award letters to comparing associate’s degrees with bachelor’s degrees to determining if a college degree is worth the cost and many more. In addition the website features an explanation of state-by-state college savings plans, including a description of the tax benefits of “State 529 College Savings Plans,” plan providers, qualified expenses and contribution limits.
Additionally, this website gives specific guidance on financing an education in business, health and nursing, online degrees (including online PhDs) and online colleges in general.
What Were College Costs 12 Years Ago?
This website, titled “Archived Information,” provides an excellent reference for the cost of education for the 1998/1999 school year. By comparing the graphs, charts, tables and other statistics from this period to those charged by your chosen or prospective school, you will have an excellent understanding of how much the cost of a college education has increased over the past 11 or 12 years. Additionally, categories of typical college expenses and a dissertation on tuition costs at public and private colleges provide you with additional useful background information. The site also includes a chart allowing you to determine how much you need to save each month to have $10,000 saved by the time your child begins college.
What Services and Loans Can Banks Provide?
This page of Charter One’s website on “Education Cost” provides an excellent overview of college education costs and financial aid information. Links to numerous student services provided by the banking industry are also included. A student loan specialist is also available through an 800 number. Be advised that other banks may provide similar services; so also check with banks you may already be doing business with and may prefer.
Current Useful Links and Guidance
This Financing For College website stood out by its simple but well designed and easily navigated format. The home page includes a well-written article providing a useful overview of financing options. The website also includes a listing of ten recommended college and university resources and a “contact section” for questions or comments.
A Global Perspective
Although published about 18 months ago (May 2010), Financing Higher Education Worldwide, subtitled “Who Pays? Who Should Pay?,” provides an excellent perspective as financial responsibility for higher education is shifting from governments and taxpayers to individual students and/or their families. Public revenue streams to support higher education are drying up around the U.S. and many other countries. Thus, today students are carrying a greater share of the cost of their higher education degrees. This book provides a comparative approach as different countries face the challenges of cost sharing. Click here for more information and ordering details from Amazon.Com.
Thank you for reading! If this information and the listed Internet resources were helpful, please let us know. Your comments and questions are most appreciated.