How to pay for college
Tuition costs can be shocking, but you have several options when it’s time to pay the bill.
Jan, 2026
1 of 8
Slide 1
During a college search, the excitement about academic programs and career-launching degree options can suddenly dwindle when you start tallying up the tuition, fees, and other costs. But college doesn’t have to require mortgaging your family’s future or sending your child into decades of debt. There are many options for putting funds together. Knowing what’s available can help ease money worries and get that enthusiasm growing again.
Written byElizabeth Millard.
Medically reviewed byAnn Wendling, MD, MPH.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education: Federal Student Aid. Choosing a School. Accessed February 11 + 10
- U.S. Department of Education: Federal Student Aid. Choosing a School. Accessed February 11, 2025.
- U.S. Department of Education: Federal Student Aid. Understanding College Costs. Accessed February 11, 2025.
- Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice. Choosing a College: Questions To Ask. May 2021.
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Chapter 5: Compound Interest. October 25, 2023.
- Finaid.org. Retirement Plans and Saving for College. Accessed February 11, 2025.
- Investopedia. 529 Plan: What It IS, How It Works, Pros and Cons. November 22, 2024.
- IRS.gov. Topic no. 310, Coverdell education savings accounts. January 2, 2025.
- Investopedia. Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs): How They Work. August 6, 2024.
- U.S. Department of Education: Federal Student Aid. Direct PLUS Loans for Parents. Accessed February 11, 2025.
- Investopedia. Home Equity Loans and College Financial Aid. July 29, 2024.
- Bankrate.com. Borrowing money from your home to pay for your child’s college. September 3, 2024.
Recommended for you
How can I be more consistent?