Education Savings Options
Parents should expect to pay at least half to two-thirds of their children's college costs through a combination of savings, current income, and loans. Gift aid from the government, the colleges and universities, and private scholarships accounts for only about a third of total college costs.
These resources will provide families with additional information on the options available to them
- FinAid: The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid - provides a comprehensive overview on the subject of saving for college costs
- The U.S. Department of Education's Student Aid on the Web - compares the costs and benefits of using different financing options
- The College Savings Plan Network is a national non-profit association dedicated to making college more accessible and affordable for families. Their web site provides detailed information about 529 college savings plans and allows you to compare plans from around the country.
- Louisiana's START Savings Plan - This program has been ranked the nation's top performing 529 college savings plan for 2007 in a recently released nationwide analysis. The study, conducted by Savingforcollege.com , analyzed the performance figures for all 529 plans across the country. Every state has at least one 529 plan available. The START Saving Program topped the charts in both categories measured - one-year performance and three-year performance.
- The College Saving Foundation ("CSF") is a Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit organization with the mission of helping American families achieve their education savings goals by working with public policy makers, media representatives and financial services industry executives in support of education savings programs
- Sallie Mae's CollegeAnswer website also has comprehensive information on a number of major education savings plans.