You shop for clothes, you shop for cars, you will shop your house, shop your college as well.

Often college choices are not researched and sometimes choices border on totally illogical.   Price does not always equal quality.

College Costs
Thank You Wells Fargo for this image.

One of the easiest ways to score financial aid is to apply to schools that offer lots of it to students like you. The National Center for Education Statistics’ College Navigator tool can help you find institutions that offer substantial aid packages to families in your income bracket while The Education Trust’s College Results Online database can identify colleges that are similar to your dream school in net price and academic competitiveness.

College Debt follows you for life, it isn’t forgiven in bankruptcy.  Your college education, or your children’s has to be shopped, weighed against earnings, and has to not pose such a large burden on the family or student that the debt cannot be paid.