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. 

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.