https://communityimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/KTY-04-2018-30-001.jpg As Katy ISD seniors prepare for graduation day this May, parents and students are facing the task of choosing a college and figuring out how they are going to pay for it. Some choose schools based on affordability or location, but Ross Raymond, a collegiate adviser with College for All, a Houston-based college planning organization, said the choice should be about professional planning and debt management more than cost or school location. “There are very few schools and very few majors that really make a difference in terms of, ‘I have to go there to get a good job,’” Raymond said. “That paradigm just really doesn’t float.” Instead, Raymond encourages parents to plan earlier and research factors, such as graduation rates, employers that regularly recruit at schools and free student aid to ensure their children are set up for scholastic, financial and professional success. There are many factors to consider, he said, including cost, financial aid availability and alumni support.

Planning ahead

According to FinAid.org, a nonprofit organization that connects students to financial aid options and college planning resources, the national student debt total is more than $1.5 trillion. That number may be intimidating for those considering paying for college, Raymond said mitigating costs is possible. Students can participate in Advanced Placement and dual-credit courses, Raymond said, but should also consider other options to manage student debt. Raymond advises parents to plan earlier than senior year to choose a school. When choosing a college, parents should call the placement office at the school and ask them to justify the cost. That should include asking what companies are hiring from that school then contacting those companies to see what other schools the company hires from. If a less costly school’s graduates are considered for the same positions, the cheaper school should be considered, he said. Community college may help as well. According to the Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the annual cost to attend Houston Community College averages more than $6,500 less than the cost of a year at the University of Houston. The College Scorecard also includes data on graduation rates, typical monthly loan payment amounts for alumni and how many graduates pay off their student debt 10 years after graduation. Data is available on most colleges  in the U.S. and allows families to compare schools when making educational decisions.

Mitigating debt

Christian Davis, University of Houston scholarship and financial aid adviser, said it is not just about comparing schools once it is time for families to decide where a student will attend college. It is also about planning for the financial aspect of the college planning as soon as a child is born. Davis said one example of such a tool for early savings is the Texas Tomorrow Fund, now the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan, a tax-exempt savings education savings plan that guarantees tuition rates at Texas colleges. “If they didn’t start that early, I would recommend they start their freshman year of high school,” Davis said. “This will allow the student more time to research and apply for scholarships or find organizations to join that encourage postsecondary education.” JoEllen Soucier, executive director of financial aid for Houston Community College, said there are challenges for college students, including competing in the complex application process, understanding school options, accessing college planning tools, meeting scholarship application deadlines and finding viable grant options. Families should also get students involved in student organizations quickly to ensure they are competitive when applying for aid, such as scholarships and grants. He added that scholarships are the best way to fund college without accruing debt. “[Student organizations] will assist the student in creating a more competitive profile when applying for scholarships that are merit-based,” Davis said. Davis said if families do need to get loans, he recommends families file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to get federal loans, which are less expensive to repay than private loans. Conversely, Raymond said in affluent communities like the Katy area, one problem is parents often do not complete a FAFSA because they do not believe their child will qualify for aid. Raymond said spending a little time on the FAFSA can pay off when applying for scholarships and grants that require a FAFSA be submitted and keep students qualified for other aid. Soucier said choosing a college should begin in ninth grade. The student’s performance and choices at the high school level can have a huge effect on the choices available to the student, which can affect admissions decisions. The pupil’s parents should also be planning for the costs of college even before freshman year, though. “Realistically, parents should start planning for college costs at the birth of a child,” Soucier said. “College costs are a lifetime planning process to reduce and eliminate debt as much as possible.” Soucier said community colleges can provide a cost-effective education. Community colleges have lower tuition and fees and use a variety of methods to lower costs for students. They offer resources that four-year colleges and universities do, such as free support services like tutoring and other tools that can help them meet basic living needs while they attend school. Career choices may save students money by allowing financial aid debts to be forgiven, according to Raymond. Educators, first responders and medical professionals may qualify for debt forgiveness programs. Raymond said students should be aware that they do not have to accept the full student loan awards they are given. Accepting too much increases debt that has to be paid back  while grants and scholarships do not. “The bottom line is, there’s plenty of money out there for somebody that wants to go [to college], but they have got to be smart about how they do it,” Raymond said.