There are different ways to increase or have different sources for financial aid money.  You might have a mix of grants, scholarships, federal, state and private loans as well as money from your “college fund” from parents, relatives and part-time jobs.

Going to college is probably one of the best times to think about a budget; it’s a good idea whether you’re an incoming freshman or a returning college student.  You can determine how much income or money (all of it) you have and then decide how much you need based on college and personal expenses.  Our budget calculator can help you organize and bucket your information so you can plan accordingly and truly achieve your goal of going to college.