College Funding

LOOK carefully at the costs of college. College costs continue to rise faster than inflation: According to the College Board, the average yearly cost of education at a public four-year college in 2007—08 is $6,185, up 6.6 percent from last year. The yearly average of a public two-year college in 2007—08 is $2,361, up 4.2 percent from last year. The average yearly cost at a private four-year college in 2007—08 is $23,712, up 6.3 percent from last year.

PLAN and carry out your funding strategy. Find out some of the federal, state, and private funding programs are available and how to qualify. For state college savings programs, you may want to start as soon as possible.