Find Out How Much College Aid You Can Get
This calculator will give you a quick estimate.
By now, your high school senior has received letters from the colleges he applied to letting him know whether he's been accepted. Which one he attends could depend on the price tag and whether your family can get financial aid.
In our Quick and Easy Financial Fixes, we suggest a fast way to get a rough idea of how much aid you could receive. FinAid.org has an Quick Expected Family Contribution Calculator that takes just one minute to complete. It will help you understand the major variables that affect financial aid.
For a more-accurate estimate, try FinAid's Financial Aid Estimation Form. For tips on how to increase your child's chances of receiving funding, see Improve Your odds for College Aid.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
To learn why some families get more aid than others, see Cracking the Financial Aid Code. And learn how to interpret a college-aid letter with our new interactive tool.
To continue reading this article
please register for free
This is different from signing in to your print subscription
Why am I seeing this? Find out more here
Award-winning journalist, speaker, family finance expert, and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk.
Cameron Huddleston wrote the daily "Kip Tips" column for Kiplinger.com. She joined Kiplinger in 2001 after graduating from American University with an MA in economic journalism.
-
Five Ways to Make Retirement a Little Less Scary
To avoid lying awake at night once you’re retired, consider having these strategies in place before you take the plunge.
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA® Published
-
With Irrevocable Trusts, It’s All About Who Has Control
An irrevocable trust must be carefully funded, structured and managed to achieve both asset protection and tax planning.
By Rustin Diehl, JD, LLM Published
-
5 Ways to Save Money on Vacation Rental Properties
Travel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
By Cameron Huddleston Published
-
10 Annoying Hotel Fees and How to Avoid Them
Travel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
By Cameron Huddleston Last updated
-
Are Student Loans Being Forgiven or Not?
Student Loans The House and Senate voted to repeal President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, but does it even matter?
By Katelyn Washington Last updated
-
Are Scholarships Tax-Free?
Education Scholarships are generally tax-free if certain IRS and other requirements are met.
By Kelley R. Taylor Published
-
Student Loan Forgiveness Blocked For Now Due to Court Rulings
Biden's student loan debt forgiveness program is on hold until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in.
By Kelley R. Taylor Published
-
529 Plan Contribution Deadlines
529 Plans Many states have year-end deadlines for making 529 college savings plan contributions.
By Kelley R. Taylor Last updated
-
3 Key Ways You Can Help a Child or Grandchild Pay for College
college Options such as 529 plans, education savings accounts and tax-free gifts can ensure you don’t carry a child’s student loan debt into your golden years.
By Tony Drake, CFP®, Investment Advisor Representative Published
-
Borrowers Over 50 With Student Loan Debt
Paying for College Millions of borrowers 50 and older are struggling to repay loans for themselves and their children, some delaying retirement. There’s a trick, though, to help with repayment.
By Elaine Silvestrini Published