Traditional planning for college expenses usually exists of estimating tuition and how much to save each year to pay for four years. But once college gets closer, the numbers all change and the options all have different prices, meaning exploring financial aid usually comes into the picture. And that’s where college gets complicated.
“Often financial aid is presented in less than a clear way,” said Carol Stack, co-author of “The Financial Aid Handbook.” “It’s not that complicated.”
VIDEO: Authors Explain How Colleges Determine Awards. 2:43
Stack and co-author Ruth Vedvik, both former college admissions directors, try to simplify the process. They believe an informed student and parent can make college more affordable.