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Feeling Squeezed?!
Many parents are shocked when then see the cost of higher education today. Costs are escalating faster than inflation, with the result that a college education is much more expensive for families than it was in the past.
FACT: In Washington and Idaho, the official Cost of Attendance for a state university is between $14,000 and $17,000 per year, depending on the school. Private schools in the Northwest average $32,000-$45,000.
At the same time, most scholarships and grants awarded have not kept up with inflation. The result? Middle class students often attend lesser schools than they could qualify for, and still graduate with enormous debt.
FACT: The average 2005 college graduate has student loan debt of $19,300, according to USA Today, and many students have much more.
It’s no wonder that many middle-class families, and even upper-middle-class families, feel squeezed!
But there IS help out there...
College Funding Systems, a Spokane-based college funding consulting service, helps parents navigate the maze of college funding with a threefold strategy:
- Analyzing your family’s finances and recommending changes that will maximize your eligibility for need-based financial aid.
- Helping you create a strategy to pay for the costs that aren’t covered by financial aid.
- Helping your student find a school that meets his or her needs, qualifications, and interests--and also provides an adequate financial aid package.
Backed by the resources of a nationwide college funding consulting organization, we tailor a strategy to meet each family’s individual needs.
Many of our clients have gained thousands of dollars in financial aid that would otherwise have been forfeited.
How do we do this?
Using sophisticated software, we can help you understand how the U.S. Department of Education calculates your Family Contribution and what you can do to lower it.
Using a powerful database containing the financial aid histories of all the colleges and universities in the U.S., we can recommend colleges that offer good financial aid packages.
Using the online, interactive Discover program, your student can explore college and career possibilities at his or her own pace.
Using proven negotiation methods, we can often convince a school to increase its initial financial aid offer.
Using 20 years of experience in financial services, we can help you find the best funding mechanism for your college expenses.
Using a holistic approach, we can help craft a complete plan that meets your individual needs.
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