Financing College: How to Use Savings, Financial Aid, Scholarships and Loans to Afford the School of Your Choice

Parents are suffering from college "sticker shock." They read of increasing tuitions and agonize over how they can afford the best school for their children. Kristin Davis contends that things are better than they may seem. In Financing College, she demystifies every aspect of the college aid process, helping parents estimate their bottom line--how much of the total costs a college will actually expect the family to contribute. And that's pretty much the same whether the child's applying to a chic expensive school or a more modestly priced public or private institution.

This guide will help parents and their children:

Choose a school that meets their educational and financial goals.

Maximize savings, invest for high return, and reduce the tax bite.

Negotiate with financial aid officers.

Get the lowest-cost loans.

Apply for scholarships the smart way.

Whether parents are launching a long-term savings plan for young children or scrambling to pay next year's tuition bills for today's high school seniors, Financing College provides the strategies they need to afford the best education possible.

Kristin Davis is a senior associate editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine covering banking, credit, insurance, taxes, college financing, and household money management. Named three times to The Journal of Financial Reporting's annual listing of America's best financial journalists under the age of 30, she has appeared on Donahue, CNN, CNBC and numerous radio programs. Ms. Davis lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.