financial advice & planning

9 Ways to Build Credit In College

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 7, 2025

Key Takeaway: A good credit score can help build a solid financial foundation that will open many doors after graduation. Spending responsibly and paying debts on time, every time are the two most important things you can do to improve your credit score. College students find themselves juggling classes, homework, assignments, regular tests, and other …

financial advice & planning

Saving For Your Child’s College Education? Try The “2k” Rule

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

Saving for their child’s college education is one of their biggest stresses for parents across the US. What makes it even more challenging is the fact that they cannot figure how much they actually need to save. A recent poll indicated that up to 50% of parents admitted that they need some kind of education with …

financial advice & planning

FAQs About Net Price Calculators

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

When searching for your future college, price may be important, but you should be looking past the sticker price. A net price will give you a more accurate and personalized feel for the cost of attending the school. Every college and university is actually required to have a calculator on their website, but you may …

financial advice & planning

A Look at How Much it Costs to Apply to College

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

When calculating the cost of college, what most students and their parents forget to take into consideration is how much it costs to apply to college. This could be a mistake if you are on a tight budget and have to account for every dollar spent. The fact is you could end up spending upwards …

financial advice & planning

14 Ways to Stretch Your Dollar in College

By Jessica HerbineLast updated on December 22, 2022

You work hard for your money, and when you’re a broke college student, you need to save just about every cent of it. But cutting costs in college doesn’t mean you’re locked away in your dorm or holding out on the things you want. Saving money as a college student doesn’t have to be difficult. …

financial advice & planning

3 Things You Should Start Saving For During College

By Katy TripsesLast updated on March 24, 2025

With the cost of attending college continuing to rise year-over-year, it can be hard for college students to start saving money for during college into their budgets each month. In fact, college students aren’t the only group that struggles to save; according to a recent survey, 34% of all Americans have nothing set aside in …

financial advice & planning

4 Great Ways to Raise Money for College

By Jim RaychrudhuryLast updated on March 3, 2025

Far too many college financial advice programs talk about going into debt while neglecting to mention you cannot discharge federally backed student loans in bankruptcy and the high-interest rates you may pay. Nor do they discuss how to lower the cost of college beyond generic advice to apply for many scholarships, regardless of the time …

financial advice & planning

Money Saving Tips for College-Bound Students

By Emma MillerLast updated on March 24, 2025

The fact that you’ve made it to college doesn’t make you an independent, financially responsible adult just yet. Daily outs and abouts in the first year can set you back more than you think if you don’t watch your spending. For a freshman, flashy jewelry, hip clothing, and all the trinkets that shine but aren’t …

financial advice & planning

How To Graduate From College With Minimum Debt

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

With the cost of college, graduating with no debt is reserved only for a lucky few. For the majority of students, graduating with some amount of debt is inevitable. There’s nothing you can do about that reality. However, with some savvy planning, you can reduce your overall debt substantially. If graduating with minimum debt is …

financial advice & planning

A Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Budget in College

By Morgan StaubLast updated on March 12, 2025

As they go away to college for the first time, many students find themselves slightly unprepared to be handling their own finances. While you may have had some experience in high school with managing money, the odds are good that you’ve never been entirely responsible for your own budget the way you are in college. …