Paying for College

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Look at an actual Student Aid Report (SAR).
• Identify the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• Review the financial information included to help create a picture of a student’s aid package.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Watch a documentary, news series, or TED Talk regarding the student loan debt crisis in the US.
• Complete a viewing guide with their “expert group”.
• Meet in groups to share their learning.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Examine the relationship between their choice of college and how much they might need to borrow in student loans.
• Explore the average price, average debt, and estimated loan repayments at different universities.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Calculate the value of a college education.
• First, they will estimate it’s value. Then, they will use a chart from the Dept. of Labor to calculate the value (in career earnings) of different levels of education. Finally they will reflect on that value.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Compare the difference between the Sticker Price of college and the Net Price to see what they will actually be required to pay for their education.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• assess college expenses as needs or wants and then discuss their decisions with a partner.

In this activity students will be able to:

• Use a decision matrix to compare options for common college purchases
• Research the possible products online and organize their findings.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Compare the different types of student loans.
• This includes Federal vs Private loans, the different types of Federal Loans (Perkins, Stafford/Direct, and Direct Plus), and subsidized vs unsubsidized loans.

In this activity, students will:  

• make choices regarding income in college
• set aside money to pay yourself first in savings
• create a monthly budget to follow during freshman year
• and then reflect on the process of budgeting.
• Available in English & Spanish

In this activity, students will be able to:

• follow step-by-step directions and make decisions to complete a hypothetical monthly college budget using a spreadsheet
• reflect on their choices.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Find scholarships and grants to help them pay for college.
• Identify personal characteristics that can make them candidates for specific scholarships.
• Find scholarships using internet platforms.
• Develop a “plan of attack” for securing grants/scholarships.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Complete a Web Quest to define key vocabulary terms in the process of applying to college and paying for it, including: University vs College, Bachelor’s vs Master’s Degrees, Public vs Private Colleges, and In-State vs Out-of-State Tuition.

In this activity, students will be able to:

• Complete a Web Quest to identify key personal and financial information students will need before completing the FAFSA.
• Search for questions to ask before submitting their FAFSA to ensure it is completed fully and correctly.

Students will be able to

• Available in English & Spanish

In this Common Core-aligned project, students will follow directions to complete a fully customized budget for their monthly expenses while in college. They’ll reflect on how these decisions impact their college experience and their future.

In this Common Core-aligned project, students will work in a group to plan a spring break college vacation. After completing a budget and slideshow, they’ll present their vacation in competition with the other groups in the class for best trip.

In this Case Study, students assume the role of guidance counselor to help students clear their misconceptions about the sticker price of college and other important factors they should consider when choosing a school.