financial advice & planning

How to Use a Personal Loan Calculator to Plan Out Your Loan

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Whether you have a loan or you’re looking at your current loan options, a personal loan calculator can absolutely come in handy for your finances. Are you using it to its full potential? We cover how you can make the most of it for your loans in this article. Make Sure Your Information is Accurate …

financial advice & planning

How to Find the Best Savings Account for You

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

When it comes time to obtain a savings account, do you know where to look? Or what process you should follow? It may take time to find the best savings account for your needs. Check out these tips: Shop Around You shouldn’t opt for the first savings account you come across if you can help …

financial advice & planning

8 Vital Finance Tips For College Students to Save Money

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on May 22, 2023

College presents a lot of financial challenges to students and their families. There are scholarships to win, tuition prices to consider, loans to take out, debt to repay. Not to mention many college students are financially on their own for the first time, and have to deal with budgets, paychecks, and the like. Check out these …

financial advice & planning

How Parents Can Start on Their Child’s College Finance Planning

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

With college fees increasing every year, it has become impossible for the average parent to pay their child’s tuition entirely on their own. Making smart saving decisions will at least help you cover a larger part of the fees while keeping your child’s student debt to the minimum. And it definitely pays to start thinking …

scholarships

Q&A With $1,000 College Raptor Scholarship Recipient Reina Sausedo!

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Congratulations to the College Raptor Scholarship recipient, Reina Sausedo! Her compelling essay earned her $1,000 towards her higher education. I got the chance to chat with Reina about her experience in searching for colleges and preparing for the next step in her education. Here’s what she had to say! Tell us a little about yourself!  …

financial advice & planning

How EFC Affects Your College Cost and Financial Aid Planning

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2023

Saving or raising money to pay for college can be a long and challenging process. There are a lot of elements that go into the planning, and so many affect one another. One of the biggest factors when it comes to financial aid is EFC. Let’s break it down. What is EFC? EFC stands for …

scholarships

A Q&A With $2,500 College Raptor Scholarship Essay Winner Tasneem Ahmed!

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

Congratulations to Tasneem Ahmed, the recent (and talented) College Raptor $2,500 Scholarship essay winner! I got the chance to speak with Tasneem and ask about her college search journey, future plans, and more. Check out her interview below! Tell us a little about yourself! Hi! My name is Tasneem Ahmed and I’m a senior at …

student loans

How Do You Qualify For Student Loan Forgiveness?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025

Federal student loans offer several benefits that private student loans don’t offer. One of these benefits is being able to qualify for student loan forgiveness. The student loan forgiveness program is a special type of benefit established by the federal government. It is only applicable to federal student loans, and that too, only certain types …

student loans

The Average Student Loan Debt in America | 2023

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 5, 2025

The cost of obtaining a college education has been increasing steadily over the years. Today, most college students require the help of scholarships and student loans to cover the costs. However, the average student loan debt has risen along with the price-tag of college. Here’s a look at the average student debt in the U.S. in 2023. Important Things …

financial advice & planning

What Are The 529 Plan Rules?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

When it comes to saving for college, 529 plans are often at the forefront of many parents’ savings research and goals. However, there are a lot of rules and information to digest. States offer 529 plans to give parents a way to save for their kids’ college tuition. Parents who start saving in a 529 …