Getting into college is hard enough, but the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) can feel like rocket science. Luckily, with some preparation and answers to your burning questions, you can tackle the FAFSA like a pro.

First off, what is the FAFSA? The FAFSA is an application all students must fill out to qualify for federal financial aid, but it can also be used to grant state and institution-specific aid. The federal government uses the information provided on your FAFSA to estimate how much money your family can contribute to your education. 

The new semester is fast approaching and students and parents are starting to make decisions about college costs. According to ConsumerReports.org and StudentLoanHero.com, parents and students alike should weigh the total costs beyond just tuition and housing in their decision process. 

As college tuition costs continue to rise, parents and students are left struggling to find ways to pay. 

College is the start of your adult life, and you'll start to see some changes in your day to day routine. From paying rent, to grocery shopping, to managing your free time and homework schedule, college comes with a lot of responsibilities you've never had to consider. One of these considerations is your personal finances. You might be wondering, "Where do I even start?". We hear you. Here's 5 helpful tips from our friends at Money Under 30 to follow as a college student getting started in your financial journey. 

It’s July! We hope you all enjoyed your holiday. While you were barbecuing, swimming, and gazing at fireworks, a small part of you may have been a bit distracted. Maybe you were celebrating LeBron James’s contract with the Lakers, maybe you were dreading going back to work, or perhaps you were stressing about a seemingly intimidating topic: student loans. It seems like such a big deal (I mean, its my education right?!). It’s hard to even know where to begin. Luckily, the USC Credit Union offers incredible student loans in addition to refinance and consolidation services. We have taken the ~liberty~ of predicting and answering some Frequently Asked Questions about our incredible loan services. So there is no need to worry—you can get back to celebrating the Lakers very soon after scanning this basic information. Enjoy!

Entering or continuing college can be difficult with the increasing costs. Don’t let money, however, limit you from fulfilling your dreams.

Refinancing your student loan can lower your monthly payment and potentially save you thousands of dollars on interest. While the process isn’t difficult, refinancing college loans does require some research on your part in order to get the most benefit. Here’s what you need to do:

Preparation is Key

Your credit score is a major factor that lenders consider when you apply to refinance your student loans. Since earning your degree, you have probably been earning a salary and consistently making payments on your loans and credit cards. These can contribute to a good credit score. You should check your credit report to make sure it accurately reflects your creditworthiness and that all the reported information is correct. Here’s how:

What’s your next step and what’s holding you back? If you are like most who have graduated college and started a new career, you probably have dreams of getting your own place, traveling or maybe getting married. And it’s also likely that student loan debt is interfering with those plans.

If you want to save thousands of dollars in interest payments on your college loans and reduce your monthly payout so you have more cash every month, student loan refinancing is the answer.

If you are like most college graduates with student loans, you probably have two goals that seem to cancel each other out: pay off your student loans and save money.

Ready to get both those goals in gear and breathe a whole lot easier? Here’s how: