Financial Literacy: “Live like a student now, so you don’t have to later.”
Planning for college expenses and knowing how to responsibly manage your finances will not only improve your life as a student, but also pave the way towards financial independence after graduation. Consider the following: How much will tuition cost? How much will you need to buy books? How many hours will you need to work? How much financial aid will you qualify for? How much student loan debt can you afford to take out based on your intended career path? How much money will you make after graduation? To answer these questions, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the tools below and also consider meeting with a Financial Aid Counselor in Central Classroom 116.
Budgeting
Ask yourself: How much will it really cost to go to school? Which expenses can I reduce? Should I work more hours or increase my student loan debt?
By preparing a budget, you will be able to determine which expenses are necessities and which areas you are willing to sacrifice in order to successfully attend school.
Expense and Resource Calculator : Determine your expenses and estimate your total available income
SLOPE Calculator: Student Loans Over Projected Earnings
Student Budget Calculator: Easy to read yet comprehensive breakdown of expenses versus income
Financial Literacy Programs
Education Cents: Extensive financial literacy curriculum and the chance to win a SCHOLARSHIP!
MyMoney: lots of resources, tools, and helpful financial information based on where you are in life.
360 Degrees of Financial Literacy: financial topics covering a wide range of life stages.
Credit
What’s My Score: Everything you need to know about credit.
Employment
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Extensive information on hundreds of different types of jobs.
America’s Job Bank: explore careers, look at salaries and benefits, determine education and training required, get help with resume and interview process, match military experience to civilian occupations.
Other Resources
College In Colorado: College planning tools for the state of Colorado.
College Navigator: Education statistics on every school nationwide.
FinAid.org: everything you need to know about financial aid, including student aid for military.
FDIC Consumer News: helpful hints, quick tips, and common-sense strategies to protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars.
Money Smart Podcast: borrowing money wisely, using a spending plan to achieve financial goals, and how to effectively use banking products.
Videos
Income Based Repayment (IBR)
Credit Card Debt
How to balance your checking account
