Week 03, Class 11
College Costs and Big Decisions
Invest, compare and plan your financial future
College is usually the first five-figure decision a family makes with a teenager, and it is often made with the least financial information. Sticker prices, scholarships, grants and loans blur into one intimidating number.
This class separates them. Students learn to price a college on total cost rather than sticker price, read a loan offer for what it will actually cost, and evaluate the financial consequences of major purchases and future commitments before signing anything.
Topics covered
- Total cost, not sticker price
- Scholarships and grants
- Student loans and how to read one
- Loan principal and interest
- Major purchases and their consequences
- Future commitments
The practical activity
Students price two hypothetical colleges on total cost, compare the loan offers attached to each, and defend which option they would choose.
The learning outcome
Students can evaluate the financial consequences of major purchases, college costs and loans.