Since 1998 Kiplinger has rated public colleges and come up with a top 100 schools that offer the best education for the money. This year the University of Texas Austin ranks 25th.
Only two other schools in Texas make the list: Texas A&M at 30th, University of Texas at Dallas at 80th.
My Alma Mater, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked number one.
You can check out Kiplinger’s full list and see specifics on each school here.
Applying for Financial Aid
Kiplinger's says despite the fact that most schools are getting less money from their state and shrinking endowments, many of these public universities are still giving as much if not more financial aid to students.
I grew up in a family of five kids and I’m still amazed my parents helped put us through school. Most of us received scholarships, we worked to pay a portion of our costs, but my parents helped cover the rest. Here are some great resources to help you or your children.
FinAid is one of the best sites and really a good starting point to helping answer your questions about financial aid and scholarships. There's an entire section on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including a section that helps estimate how much your child may qualify for in financial aid. You'll also find some great tips on how to maximize your aid eligibility.
For more financial aid information check out FAFSA4caster.
The U.S. Department of Education is another good place to get information. It provides $116 billion this year to students across the country. You'll find a bunch of resources here for finding financial aid.
How to find Scholarships
At College Board your child can register for the SAT, or check their SAT scores. This site also helps you determine whether your child is taking the right classes to get into the school of their choice. There is another section on how to find scholarships.
Are you saving enough?
This site offers some nice insight into the expenses and how to save. There's a helpful section that outlines how much you should be saving based on your child's age.
Here are some good resources on 529 plans:
• Kiplinger's Guide to the Best 529 Plans
