Smart Strategies for Paying for College

We provides advice on smart strategies for paying for college. One of the biggest challenges that parents and students face is figuring out how to pay for school.

You've picked a college. Now how are you going to foot the bill?

By Donna Rosato, Consumer Reports

If you’re headed to college in a few months, you might be enjoying a bit of a break after the slog of applying to schools and the stress of deciding which one you’ll attend. Congrats—you deserve it!

And if you're the parent of a graduating high school senior, you must also be pretty relieved that the college-application process is behind you.

But the fact is another challenge awaits you both: Figuring out how to pay for the school you've chosen.

Hopefully, you’ve selected a college that’s a good financial fit, as well as one that has the desired academics and campus atmosphere. But many students and their families don’t start seriously thinking about how they’re going to pay for college until they accept a school’s admission offer.

That can be a problem, as the deadline to pay for the fall semester is typically in August. “You shouldn’t wait till you get the bill to figure out how you’re going to cover it all,” says Cyndy McDonald, president of GuidedPath, which provides tools and consulting services to college planning counselors.

If you delay payment because you run into problems with your financial aid or have to scramble to line up loans, you may not be able to register for classes and could miss out on important courses that fill up fast.

Even if you’re just using savings and income to cover the costs, there are smart ways to tap those resources. Making a payment plan now also gives you time to take actions that could reduce the amount you have to pay out of pocket for college, says McDonald.

The Strategy for Paying Your College Bill

Stay on top of communications. Future freshmen need to continuously check their school email even after committing to a college and accepting the financial aid package. You could be selected for verification of your financial aid information and have extra paperwork to complete before your financial aid money is released to your college.

Schools typically send an email about when the bill is due, with a link to an online portal where you can view the statement and pay online.

Note that school communications go to the student, not parents, so if you're a parent paying the bill, make sure you know the deadline.  You can also have your student sign a waiver and give you permission to get email communications and view financial aid and billing statements online.

Understand what you owe. Your bill will show the cost of tuition, room and board, and fees for things such as student activities and subtract credits for financial aid such as scholarships, loans, and grants. Whatever is left after credits is what you owe.

If you plan to take out loans, you’ll need to sign a master promissory note pledging to repay the loan and complete loan counseling online or in-person to understand the terms and conditions. If you haven’t done that, loan credits may not appear on the bill.

Don't expect to see work-study credits there—you'll be paid for that directly. Look for out for unnecessary charges. The bill may include services you don't need and can change or waive, such as an expensive meal plan (there may be a less expensive option) and health insurance (staying on your parent's plan could be cheaper than going with the school's insurance plan).

If you borrow, choose federal loans. Federally backed loans come with consumer protections like flexible repayment plans and deferment or loan-forgiveness options if you meet certain conditions. You don’t have to start paying a federal loan back till six months after you leave full-time school and, depending on your financial situation, the government may pay the interest on your loan while you’re in school.

Unfortunately, rates for federal loans are going up. Although the Department of Education hasn’t formally announced the new rates, which are set July 1, they are based on the results of 10-year Treasury note rates auctioned this month.

According to Credible.com, rates for new loans for undergraduates in school for the 2018-2019 academic year will be a fixed-rate 5.04 percent, up from 4.45 percent the previous year. Parent PLUS loans, which are also federally backed, will be 7.59 percent fixed, up from 7 percent.

Private loans often try to hook borrowers with lower interest rates, but those rates are variable rather than fixed like federal loans, so they could rise. Also, private loans come with stricter terms and fewer, if any, debt-relief options if you can’t afford your payments. Most private loans also require a cosigner.

Only borrow what you need. Federal loan money is paid directly to the school to cover your tuition, room, board and fees. What’s left over will be sent to you. It’s tempting to use that money for other expenses—there’s no requirement that the money be spent on school.

Do a budget based on projected expenses and only borrow what you need to cover costs, not the entire amount you’re eligible for, says Jodi Okun, president of College Financial Aid Advisors, which helps families navigate the financial-aid process.

If you end up with money left at the end of the semester, there are no penalties for early repayment, says Okun. If you can swing it, consider making payments on any loans you take while you’re in school.

Be smart about tapping a 529. Only use this money for qualified expenses, such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, and computers. Money from a 529 can also go toward room and board expenses, including off-campus housing, for students who are enrolled at least half-time at school.

Other expenses such as transportation and insurance, for example, are not typically covered. If you’re unsure whether an expense qualifies, check with your 529 plan provider.

Sign up for an installment plan. Rather than paying the college a lump sum, the payments may be more manageable if you spread it out. Most schools offer payment plans with no interest, though there may be a small fee to set it up or finance charges if you fall behind.

The most common program spreads payments out in monthly installments. Other colleges have deferred payment plans in which you make three or four equal payments during the semester.

If your school doesn’t offer a payment plan directly, you may be able to set up one through a third party, such as Higher One or Tuition Management Systems.

Donna Rosato

I write about the financial challenges of paying for college, managing higher-education debt, and the steep cost of healthcare. I want to help people take control of their finances so that they can enjoy the other parts of their life. What I enjoy: running with friends, kayaking with my husband, and playing Legos with my son. Follow me on Twitter (@RosatoDonna).