How to plan financially for college; from cradle to graduation

Published on May 14, 2020 | Webster Bank

A crash course in funding an education

A college’s sticker price is the amount advertised as the full rate for tuition and fees before financial need, scholarships and other aid are factored. Net price is the amount that a family pays after aid and scholarships Ð usually offsetting the sticker price shock.

The average tuition and fees at an in-state public college is about 73% less than the average sticker price at a private college, at $10,116 for the 2019-2020 year compared with $36,801, respectively, U.S. News data shows. Among ranked private colleges, 120 charge sticker prices of at least $50,000 for the current academic year, according to tuition and fees data reported to U.S. News by 785 private institutions. Only a few ranked private colleges and universities Ð 61 Ð list a full rate price of less than $20,000 for 2019-2020.

And thatÕs for just one student.

But donÕt be disheartened. You can take baby steps now toward savings that can pay off in a big way when itÕs time for college.

How much should you save?

Look at how small amounts, invested consistently, can create a sizeable college fund:

If you save $200 a month for your newborn child, invested at a 6% annual rate of return, it will grow to more than $76,000 by age 18. ThatÕs the power of compound interest.

Any amount, no matter how little it may seem, can create a nest egg if you save faithfully, month after month.

How much will you specifically need?

• Know where you want your child to go to college? Find the current cost on the National Center for Education Statistics’ school locator.
• Not sure where youÕll send your child? Get national public and private school averages from The College Board.

How much should you borrow?

If youÕve had sticker shock over tuition costs, the figures on student loan debt wonÕt be much comfort.

Today, students on average graduate with $35,397 in federal and private student loan debt. (Not to mention the loans their parents take out.) Compare that to the mean credit card debt in the U.S.of $5,700.

And thatÕs today, not 2030.

Right about now, parents may be hoping their child grows into an All-American fullback or a second Stephen Hawking. But just in case the big scholarships donÕt come to pass, you need a plan.

That means loan decisions are going to be an even bigger deal as the years progress. But Webster offers help to plan your way past the obstacles and point you towards success.

Types of college savings plans

You have a range of options for college savings plans; your choice depends on your specific circumstances. LetÕs take a closer look:

• 529 Education Plans

As you save for private high school or higher education costs, your contributions grow tax-deferred, for both state and federal income tax. In fact, your contributions get a state tax deduction. When itÕs time to withdraw funds, you donÕt pay taxes on the growth in your account, so long as the money is used for qualified expenses. Up to an annual maximum of $15,000 for 2019, there are no restrictions on contributions to a 529 plan.

However, your state may offer benefitsÑfinancial aid, scholarships and protection from creditorsÑthat are only available for investments in the stateÕs qualified tuition program. Before you choose a 529 plan, make sure you arenÕt excluding the chance to gain these benefits.

• Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA)

This act allows you to donate assets to be held in a custodian’s name for your student without requiring a trust fund. It can offer a tax-advantaged way to build college funds. One caveat: UGMA assets may impair the ability to qualify for a collegeÕs financial aid program.

• Coverdell Education Savings Accounts

Like 529 plans, Coverdell accounts help pay for education costs through tax-free earnings growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualifying expenses: tuitions, books and uniforms, for example. They have lower maximum contribution limits than 529 plans.

Will your child be eligible for financial aid?

That will depend on the assets you have availableÑand who owns them. According to FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority: ÒSavings in a parent’s name may reduce federal financial aid eligibility by at most 5.64 percent, but assets saved in a child’s name may reduce aid eligibility by 20 percent. State 529 accounts owned by a child, or set up as custodial 529 accounts, are treated at the lower 5.64 percent rate.Ó

Give the gift of education

Grandparents and other members of your family may want to contribute to your childÕs educationÑand those gifts can be far more meaningful than toys. But keep this caveat in mind:

If grandparents open and own a 529 plan, those assets donÕt factor into a childÕs financial aid calculation. However, distributions from that plan can reduce your studentÕs eligibility for financial aid. Fortunately, new rules for FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, can mitigate the impact.

All the more reason to bring a financial consultant into your planning.

Help is here

Your Webster Banker can help you determine which approach makes the most sense for your specific situation. Meet while your child is young so you have the benefit of years of compounding. But even when your child is older, a financial specialistÕs advice can be essential to capitalize on every saving and borrowing option available.

Request a planning session. It can be an eye-opening education to options you may not know aboutÑand a path forward with confidence.

The opinions and views in this blog post are those of the authors, and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All loans are subject to the normal credit approval process.