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Feeling Squeezed?
Many parents are shocked when first experiencing the cost of higher education today. Costs are escalating faster than inflation, with the result that a college education is more expensive for families as a percentage of their income and assets than ever.
FACT: In Washington and Idaho, the official cost of attendance for a state university is between $18,000 and $25,000 per year, depending on the school. Private schools in the Northwest range from $35,000-$60,000.
At the same time, most scholarships and grants awarded have not kept up with inflation. This has resulted in middle class students often attending lesser schools than those for which they could qualify and the encumberance of enormous debt.
FACT: The average 2005 college graduate has student loan debt of $24,000, according to CNN Money, 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 three-fold strategy:
- Analyzing your family's finances and recommending changes that will maximize your eligibility for need-based financial aid.
- Help you create a strategy to pay for the costs that aren?t covered by financial aid.
- Help 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 missed.
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 steps you can take to lower it.
Using a comprehensive database containing the financial aid histories of all the colleges and universities in the U.S. We can recommend colleges that offer attractive 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 help you negotiate with school administrators to garner a better aid package.
Using 20 years of experience in financial services, we can help you find effective funding mechanisms for your college expenses.
Using a holistic approach, we can help craft a complete plan that meets your individual needs.
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