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College Costs & Student Loans, Explained

Every article here pairs with a calculator on this site. College financial aid and student loan rules are dense and change frequently — these articles extract the math, cited to the authorizing statutes and IRS publications, so you can verify every calculation.

Student Loans

Federal student loan repayment options compared: standard, IDR, and PSLFStandard repayment, SAVE, PAYE, IBR, ICR, and PSLF — each plan produces a different total-cost outcome depending on income trajectory. Here's the primary-source comparison.
When to Refinance Student Loans in 2026: The Federal Protection Trade-Off AnalysisRefinancing federal loans is a one-way door. The lower rate looks good on paper — but you lose IDR, PSLF, and discharge rights permanently. Here's the NPV analysis you need before you walk through it.

Financial Aid

FAFSA 2026 Complete Guide: SAI Formula, Contributor Requirements, and Aid MaximizationEFC is gone. SAI is the new formula — and the Contributor concept means both parents must provide financial data even if they don't pay tuition. Here's the full AY 2025-26 FAFSA playbook, no admissions-office spin.

Savings

529 plan rules explained: contributions, withdrawals, and SECURE 2.0IRC §529 lets earnings grow tax-free and withdrawals are tax-free for qualified expenses. SECURE 2.0 adds a Roth rollover escape valve — here's how the math works.