15 guides
College money guides
Plain-English money guides for college students. Aid and loan rules change; always check StudentAid.gov and your financial aid office. We don't earn referral fees.
Financial aid
FAFSA, grants, scholarships and your aid refund.
- FAFSA basics
Free to file, every year, as early as you can.
- Grants, scholarships, work-study and loans
Free money first, earned money second, borrowed money last.
- Finding scholarships
Local and school scholarships often have fewer applicants.
- Planning your aid refund
It has to last the whole semester.
Student loans
Federal vs. private, how much to borrow, and interest.
- Federal vs. private student loans
Federal loans usually come first, for good reasons.
- Borrow only what you need
You don't have to accept the full amount offered.
- Interest while you're in school
Subsidized vs. unsubsidized makes a difference.
Semester budget
Budgeting, food, textbooks, transport and phones.
- Build a semester budget
Money in, money out, and a weekly amount.
- Eat well on a student budget
Meal plans, a few staples and campus resources.
- Saving on textbooks
Check the syllabus before you buy anything.
- Transport and phone costs
Student passes, cheaper plans, and family plans.
College life
First credit card, campus jobs, scams and summer.
- Your first credit card in college
A small limit, one bill, paid in full.
- Work-study and campus jobs
Flexible hours around classes.
- Scams that target students
Fake scholarships, jobs, rentals and loan "help".
- A summer money plan
Summer earnings can make next year easier.