Fee and hidden charges

Collegehill keeps you updated with the latest fees structure of college you are getting into.

Colleges are supposed to tell students their full cost of attendance—including all hidden fees, book costs, and living expenses. While many colleges post their total expense on their websites, many post low-ball numbers that don't include fees or reasonable living expenses. And some don't include any price information at all and will reveal it only if you call them.

If you can't find your college's total expenses on its website, Collegehill has developed a full dynamic database of college expenses that you will have to make during your college life. Unfortunately, sometimes the costs listed on these sites are for previous years. Collegehill asks for the latest fees chart from each college.

The costs of college include:

• Tuition: the cost of classes
• Fees: Don't leave out of your budget the growing number of fees being tacked on to college bills, including "student activities" fees, gym fees, health clinic fees, lab fees, technology fees, library fees, etc.
• Room (or rent)
• Board (or food)
• Textbooks
• Supplies: Some schools, for example, require students to own a computer.
• Health insurance: A few schools require students to buy a campus health insurance plan. Others strongly recommend that students buy a plan that covers them while on campus if their home plan doesn't cover the area.
• Transportation: The student will need to fund travel between home and campus, at the very least.

Funding your children’s education is no small task. It will probably represent the largest liability (outside of a home) that you will incur in your lifetime. Currently the average annual college tuition expense is 25,000 to 2 lacs Indian rupees. But these are after tax, Assuming a 35% tax rate, you will need to earn a lot more. Furthermore, the inflation rate for college tuition has been running double to triple the Consumer Price Index inflation rate.

COLLEGEHILL financial planning strategies can help!

Financial planning, specifically for education, can lead to huge savings on college expenses. Unfortunately, too many parents are given incorrect or incomplete information or don’t take the time to find out what measures are available and how they can  maximize the reduction of out of pocket expenses for college. Indeed, college financial planning is sometimes referred to as “the best kept secret in America”.

Collegehill’s financial division will work with you to unlock these secrets and maximize the benefits gained using the following strategies:

1.    Cash Flow Planning: Maximizing cash flow in pre college years in order to invest in educational savings plans, while not interfering with retirement planning.

2.      Investment Planning. Help in investing these funds in the appropriate vehicle.

3.     Tax Planning. Utilizing educational tax incentives, of which there are many, create your own tax scholarship.

4.      Financial Aid Planning: Strategies to increase eligibility for maximum financial aid offered by colleges.

5.    Funding Strategies: To reduce your Expected Family Contribution in order to qualify for need-based aid.

6.   Appeals. : Advise on appealing decisions of College Financial Aid Officers.

7.    Loan and Scholarships. Help with locating the best private lenders and private scholarships.

An overview of the entire college financing process :

1.      Data collection and analysis of your financial situation as it relates to college.

2.      A step by step analysis and blueprint on how to save for and reduce the cost of college.

3.    Ongoing reminders to keep you on track and find out if any changes have occurred in your financial condition that would cause a change in the plan.