Straight talk on paying for college.
Quick reads on aid, loans, and the stuff nobody explains at orientation.
How Many Hours Should Your College Student Work? What the Research Says About Jobs, Grades, and Financial Aid
How many hours can a college student work without hurting grades or financial aid? What Trellis Strategies data shows, plus the FAFSA rules that protect student earnings.
This week
Three short reads
Jul 13, 2026
Need a Private Student Loan for Fall 2026? Why You Should Apply in July, Not August
Jul 10, 2026
Your SAVE Notice Might Not Arrive Until March 2027: Should You Switch Plans Now or Wait?
Jul 9, 2026
A Federal Judge Just Struck Down the PSLF Employer Rule: What It Means for Your Family's Loan Forgiveness Plan
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Recent posts
Jul 14
2026
How Many Hours Should Your College Student Work? What the Research Says About Jobs, Grades, and Financial Aid
How many hours can a college student work without hurting grades or financial aid? What Trellis Strategies data shows, plus the FAFSA rules that protect student earnings.
Jul 14 2026 · 9 min read
Jul 13
2026
Need a Private Student Loan for Fall 2026? Why You Should Apply in July, Not August
Private student loans take 2 to 5 weeks from application to payout. With fall bills due in August, mid-July is the time to apply. A step-by-step timeline for families.
Jul 13 2026 · 8 min read
Jul 10
2026
Your SAVE Notice Might Not Arrive Until March 2027: Should You Switch Plans Now or Wait?
Servicers are sending SAVE exit notices in waves through March 2027, so your 90-day deadline may be months away. Here is what waiting really costs and when switching now makes sense.
Jul 10 2026 · 9 min read
Jul 9
2026
A Federal Judge Just Struck Down the PSLF Employer Rule: What It Means for Your Family's Loan Forgiveness Plan
A federal judge struck down the Education Department's PSLF employer rule on June 30, one day before it took effect. What the ruling means for public service borrowers and families.
Jul 9 2026 · 7 min read
Jul 8
2026
Grad PLUS Loans Are Gone: How the New 2026 Loan Limits Compare to What Students Actually Borrowed
Grad PLUS loans ended July 1, 2026. Federal data shows what grad students actually borrowed and how the new $20,500 and $50,000 loan limits compare, program by program.
Jul 8 2026 · 8 min read
Jul 8
2026
Nearly 1 in 4 Freshmen Don't Come Back for Year Two: How to Protect Your Family's College Investment
New Clearinghouse data shows 23% of freshmen don't return for year two, and money is a top reason. 5 financial failure points and how families can plan around them.
Jul 8 2026 · 7 min read
Jul 7
2026
Davidson Just Went Tuition-Free for Families Earning Up to $175K: How to Tell If a College's Income Pledge Applies to You
Davidson College is tuition-free up to $175K starting fall 2027. Here's the fine print on income pledges at Davidson, Harvard, MIT, and Penn, and how to tell if you qualify.
Jul 7 2026 · 9 min read
Jul 6
2026
Haven't Filed the FAFSA Yet? Your July Catch-Up Plan for Fall 2026
Haven't filed the 2026-27 FAFSA? You can still get Pell Grants and federal loans for fall. Here's a week-long catch-up plan, plus what to do if the tuition bill arrives first.
Jul 6 2026 · 8 min read
Jul 5
2026
Trump Accounts Just Launched: What the New $1,000 Baby Accounts Mean for College Savings
Trump Accounts launched July 4, 2026 with $1,000 for babies born 2025-2028. Here's how they work, how they're taxed, and why a 529 is still better for college.
Jul 5 2026 · 9 min read
Jul 4
2026
Two Kids in College at Once? The FAFSA No Longer Gives You a Break — Here's What to Do Instead
The FAFSA no longer divides your contribution when siblings overlap in college. See what the SAI change costs families and 5 ways to get the break back.
Jul 4 2026 · 8 min read
From the resource library
Deeper guides, when you're ready to dig in
Blog posts are short. The resource library is step-by-step.