Index

1. Costs of a College Education 2. College...is it worth the price? Steps to take when saving for college 3. Make yourself a plan 4. Getting started early 5. Help for the late starters 6. Educational IRA and Investing Strategies

The great memories of college, the excellent education, the opportunities you open for yourself, and that great fraternity sweatshirt you'll show off to all of your friends don't come without a price. And that price is rather steep.

Each college offers different programs, professors, and costs. Right now, a family should expect to pay about $9,000 per year for a public university or about $21,500 per year for a private university.

Before you gasp for air, you must understand that this doesn't mean that when you or your child goes to college, that you or he/she will pay this amount. Many factors have to be considered when figuring a cost for college. It is true that the costs of college increases each year at about 4-5%. You must also figure in the amount of time you have until you or your child enters college. The greater amount of time until college, the more it will cost. However, you will also have more time to save for it.

Many working families cannot afford this extroardinary amount. But this should not discourage you from entering college. There are many programs set up to help you pay the costs. You can find out about financial aid, grants, loans, and student-work programs. These can greatly lower the amount that you have to pay and generally make it possible for more people to attend college.

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