For most families, the sticker price on a college's website has almost nothing to do with what you'll actually pay. That's where two tools come in: the Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Net Price Calculator (NPC). Understanding both can turn a huge, scary number into a manageable plan. Start With the Cost of Attendance Every college publishes a COA, which includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses. This is the federally

The financial side of college comes with a vocabulary all its own. This A-to-Z guide walks through the terms and decisions families encounter most often, from opening a checking account to staying on track to graduate. A is for the checking account you'll want to open. If possible, choose a bank with locations near both home and campus, and make sure parents can easily transfer money when needed. This makes day-to-day spending much easier to manage. B is for budget. Create a

Picture a student who dreams of studying oceanography but lives in a landlocked state—or one living in California, Texas, or Florida, competing for limited seats at their state’s public universities. Both want to explore out-of-state college options. Both are concerned about cost. And both are great examples of students who could benefit from tuition reciprocity programs that make certain public colleges more affordable. What Are Tuition Reciprocity Programs? Tuition recipro

Private colleges across the United States have expanded their merit-based aid programs in response to competition from public...