- The Highest Paying College Major in Every State – 2015 Edition
Choosing a college major isn’t necessarily all about the Benjamins. There are other things to consider – like what interests you. This is particularly true for majors that lend themselves to a specific profession or career path. For example, if you can’t stand the sight of blood, you might not want to become a pre-med major. Read… read more…
- All About Sallie Mae Student Loans
If you’re in the market for private student loans you’ll likely consider getting a Sallie Mae loan. Sallie Mae no longer services federal loans. Instead, it originates and services private student loans. Its spin-off company, Navient, has taken over the… read more…
- Understanding Student Loan Interest Rates
Like mortgages and credit cards, student loans come with interest rates. These can be fixed or variable depending on the loan type. They can also cause you to pay significant amounts of extra money over the long haul. As of the… read more…
- The Best Community Colleges of 2015
As the cost of attending a four year college or university continues to grow throughout the country, community colleges have assumed an increasingly important role in our higher education system. Tuition and fees at community colleges are one third those at public four year colleges and universities, on average. That means students who attend a… read more…
- Countries with Free College
The rising cost of tuition and fees at US colleges has rendered college unaffordable for many families. The average US college student now graduates with over $35,000 in debt. If you want to avoid taking on student loans (or to… read more…
- How Does Student Loan Forgiveness Affect Your Finances?
If you’re buried under a mountain of student loan debt, having it forgiven can be a huge relief. Forgiveness is generally possible if you’re disabled, part of one of the income-based repayment options or pursuing a career in public service.… read more…
- Should I Make a Lump Sum Student Loan Payment?
Student loan debt plagues some 40 million Americans and on average, graduates leave school with nearly $30,000 of debt that they’ll somehow have to pay off. If your checking account is looking healthy or you’ve gotten a bonus, it may be… read more…
- The Top 10 Cities for New College Grads in 2015
The benefits of a college degree are well-established. Unemployment is consistently several percentage points lower for workers with a bachelor’s degree than it is for those whose education ended after high school, and over the course of a lifetime, college graduates earn hundreds of thousands more on average than their less-educated peers (even with the… read more…
- The States with the Best Schools in 2015
As of 2011, total spending for all public elementary and secondary education in the United States surpassed $630 billion per year, more than $12,300 per student. The vast majority of that funding, roughly 88%, came from state and local governments. State governments have an especially important role: they maintain standards for curriculum, make sure that… read more…
- The Top States for Higher Education in 2015
Public universities and colleges serve many important roles in each of America’s 50 states. They are crucial pieces of an academic system that aims to educate young people and prepare them for the workforce. However, the quality, cost, and accessibility of schools ranges greatly from one state to the next. So which states’ higher education… read more…
- What Are Your Options if Your Private Student Loan Co-signer Dies?
Paying for college is at an almost-crisis level as tuition rates continue to rise and taking out loans to cover the cost is becoming increasingly common. When it comes to federal loans, there are limits to how much you can… read more…
- The Ten Most Politically Engaged States
With Election Day rapidly approaching, millions of Americans are starting to get involved in the political process. For some, this means registering to vote, doing some research and hitting the ballot box on November 4th. For others, election season calls for a little more action: donating money to favorite candidates and volunteering at a campaign… read more…
- The Top Ten Most Educated Cities in America
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with bachelor’s degrees alone make twice as much and are half as likely to be unemployed on average as those with only a high school education. SmartAsset wanted to find out which United States cities truly have the best educated populations. Find out now: How Much House… read more…
- The Top Ten Community Colleges in the Country
A college education is increasingly important in order to get and keep a job in the current information-oriented world. However, even as it becomes more and more of a necessity, college costs are rising, making it luxury-priced. Many people turn to community college in their local areas in order to get a higher education at… read more…
- Pros and Cons of PLUS Loans for Parents
These days, the hardest part about getting through college often isn’t the workload – it’s figuring out how to pay for it. With the total student loan debt surpassing $1.6 trillion, many of today’s grads are leaving school with a… read more…
- Property Tax: Who is Getting the Best Bang for Their Buck?
SmartAsset wanted to know who in the country is getting the best deal for their property taxes. To find that out we answered 3 questions: how good are the schools, how safe is the area and how much are the property taxes. Methodology The United States is divided into 3,144 counties (or county equivalents in… read more…
- 5 Reasons to Return to Graduate School
Now is the time of year for graduate school application deadlines. There can be many benefits to returning to school. Obtaining your graduate degree can help open doors for you in your current career or help if you are considering… read more…
- Divorce, FAFSA and the Financial Aid Process
Preparing to send a child to college for most parents is a sort of a Jekyll and Hyde process. On the one hand you’re thrilled that you child survived adolescence, the trials and travails of high school and is moving… read more…
- What to Do When You Can’t Repay Your Student Loans
For many freshly minted grads struggling to find their footing in a tough job market, the arrival of their first student loan bill is a harsh reality check. Just as student loan debt is approaching an all-time high, default rates are also skyrocketing. According to a report, approximately 5% of all student loans are in… read more…
- Student Loan Forgiveness Programs Offer Help for Struggling Graduates
Per a U.S. News report, the average yearly cost of attendance is over $22,000 for public colleges and universities and nearly $40,000 for private schools, more students than ever are financing their education. As a result, student loan debt has… read more…
- Penny-Pinching Tips for a Perfect Project Graduation Party
High school graduation is a rite of passage and time for celebration. But unless you’re willing to witness a real life scene from 16 Candles, Weird Science or even worse, Project X, you’d do best hosting a project graduation party. Nowadays, schools across the country participate in some type of chaperoned, drug- and alcohol-free event, which typically on… read more…
- Should You Buy Tuition Refund Insurance?
Not all insurance policies are created equally, and not all things need to be insured in this day and age, yet you can get a policy for just about anything. One type of policy that has been around for some time, but with very little fanfare is Tuition Refund Insurance (also known as Tuition Insurance).… read more…
- Should You Tap Into Your Retirement Funds to Pay for Education?
Across the U.S., unemployment is high and salaries are low. Job placement depends on several factors, not in the least being education level. Attaining an undergraduate- or graduate-level degree costs a lot of money, yet not everybody can afford the costs. For those who have some sort of wealth stowed in retirement fund(s), SmartAsset addresses… read more…