2026 Data Show College Costs Still Rising: How Families Can Cope NORTHRIDGE, CA, UNITED STATES, August 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The latest data on college costs shows that the average one-year cost of attendance has risen to $38,270, which includes tuition, fees, books, living expenses and personal expenses. When parents multiply that number by four, they’re looking at approximately $160,000 for a four-year degree. “And that’s just the average,” says Brian Safdari, a Certified College Planning SpecialistTM and CEO of College Planning Experts (www.CollegePlanningExperts.com) in Northridge, California. “The sticker price at private schools cost even higher.” Click Here To Read The Full Article

Federal Direct PLUS Loans: What You Should Know Federal Direct PLUS Loans have long helped students bridge the gap between their awarded federal financial aid and their school’s cost of attendance. That role has narrowed sharply under new rules that took effect in July 2026. Grad PLUS loans are no longer available for new borrowers, and parent PLUS loans now have borrowing limits. Here’s what you need to know about these changes. Click Here To Read The Full Article

How Grandparents Can Help with Financial Planning for College It’s wonderful when grandparents want to help out, whether it’s with summer camp, music lessons or college tuition. But if clients who are grandparents feel they have the resources to help out with college expenses and are offering their support, there are ways to optimize their contributions without jeopardizing financial aid. Grandparents tend to be reactive, offering their grandkids money when they have it to give out. Their generosity is heart-warming. When it comes to paying for college, though, a little bit of strategy goes a long way. Click Here To Read The Full Article

Are College Degrees Still Worth the Investment? For decades, the four-year college degree was sold as an express ticket to the middle class– a reliable path to a well-paying job and, with it, the kind of financial security your parents could brag about at dinner parties. But lately, that once-airtight pitch has started to leak. For one, the number of entry-level white-collar jobs is declining, thanks in part to AI efficiency gains. In fact, the entry-level job market is currently the worst it’s been in about 37 years. Close to 43% of US graduates aged 22 to 27 were “underemployed” at the end of 2025, meaning they were working in jobs that don’t require their degree. Click Here To Read The Full Article