From financial aid to the final bill, see how much you understand about paying for higher education.
Pell Grants. FAFSA. 529s. Sticker prices. There are so many terms and concepts to understand when paying for college. And all sorts of misconceptions.
The expense can be intimidating, but having a good grasp of the actual costs can make it easier to navigate.
We will guide you through college costs and financial aid in our six-week newsletter course, with expert advice on saving, negotiating better aid packages and navigating changes in federal financial aid.
In the meantime, let’s test your knowledge.
1 of
How much is the average published in-state tuition and fees for a public university?
2 of
Which level of study accounts for roughly half of federal student loan borrowing?
3 of
What’s the difference between the sticker price and net price?
4 of
What interest rates do federal student loans carry?
5 of
What’s the average amount of grant aid undergraduates receive?
6 of
What can you do with a 529 college savings plan?
7 of
What’s one major difference between federal and private loans?
8 of
How much in total can parents borrow from the federal government for each child?
9 of
How many colleges offer free tuition?
10 of
What is the median amount of time borrowers take to repay a federal student loan?
11 of
You can withdraw money from your Individual Retirement Account for educational expenses without an early-withdrawal penalty.
12 of
How many applicants have had their loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program?
About this story
Reporting by Danielle Douglas-Gabriel. Illustrations by Elizabeth Sanduvete. Editing and production by Chastity Pratt, Courtney Kan, Stephanie Hays and Amy Parlapiano.
How much does college really cost?
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