College tuition, fees and related costs are expensive, even for once-affordable state schools. In fact, the average annual cost at U.S. four-year colleges in 2020-2021 was $29,033, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Unfortunately, the costs of higher education are continuing to rise every year. Have you and your aspiring college student talked about the price tag of earning a degree? Have you discussed available resources and sources of potential financial aid? Having open and frank discussions with your teen about finances can be uncomfortable for both of you. However, taking a proactive approach to the topic of paying for college can help you plan for your college-bound student’s future and avoid what could end up being stressful or even heartbreaking conversations later. To learn more about the ways to approach this situation and avoid any additional stress throughout the college search process, continue reading on to the resource accompanying this post.

The Parent-Student Relationship In College Searches for more information on the college search process, be sure to check out the Encourage App