Creator: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | visit site
Grade Range: 8 - 11
Figuring out the TRUE cost of college is tricky. One college may appear to be out of financial range, but once financial aid is applied, the same college may actually require fewer out-of-pocket dollars for a prospective student and family. Comparing the true cost of one college to another has been even trickier when college describe their costs and financial aid awards using different terminology. Beginning in 2011, colleges are now required to include standardized college cost calculators on their websites. This site is working toward a centralized utility that would permit students to aggregate this information and do a meaningful cost comparison. At this point, the site is in its earliest stages, and families are asked to give it a test drive and provide feedback so the site will continue to improve. During the test drive, however, families will surely discover information that will help them in the short run as they evaluate college costs and financial aid award packages.
In the Classroom
Teachers who work with high school students, regardless of their curriculum specialties, would do their students a great service by recommending this site, and sites like it, that offer concrete financial data about the actual cost of attending college. If you teach in a field that touches personal financial planning or consumer awareness, asking students to give this site a try would make a great class, group, or individual project.
At Home
Parents are often the ones who worry the most about the true cost of college. Whether it’s because they have committed to paying for a college education for their children, or it’s because they have the financial experience to understand what taking on a mountain of debt can do to a family, parents will want to work cooperatively with their children to evaluate the actual cost of attendance when considering college applications.
Tags
Subjects
Economics, Family and Consumer Science, Gifted, Math, Parent Information,