Financial Literacy
Financial Literacy is understanding how money works and how to make informed and effective choices with your money.
Most of us have questions about money and student loan repayment. The information below can assist you with repayment and help you make sound decisions with money.
Financial Aid Video Playlist
Have financial aid questions? Visit PNW’s video portal to find answers, from understanding your financial aid offer to the difference between grants and loans.
Student Loans and Repayment
A Federal Student Aid survey of borrowers in grace asked students about to enter repayment what they would do differently when borrowing student loans. Some of their responses are shown below:
“If I could do it all over again…
- I would begin paying my loans during my studies
- I would have taken all subsidized loans and no unsubsidized ones
- I would have taken out just enough and not the maximum amount
- I would pay interest as I went
- Rethink how to spend my loan
- Take more classes per semester to cut down on cost
- I would borrow less, have a better understanding of loan repayment options, and not accept refund checks to make my loan smaller
- Find out exactly how much I am borrowing”
The responses show that students would approach loan borrowing differently. Use this information to make informed decisions with your student loans. Federal student loans used to pay for your college education can be an investment in your future. Follow the advice of other students to get the best return on investment possible:
- Start making interest payments if you are able
- Take out only subsidized loans if offered to you
- Borrow only what you need
- Take advantage of banded tuition and take a higher credit hour load each term
- Know what status your federal loans are at
- Know the amount you are borrowing and know your federal loan servicer
- Use the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to find your borrowing history and loan servicer
Be wary of third party companies promising to consolidate or eliminate your student loan debt through loan forgiveness programs. Work directly with your federal loan servicer
Financial Literacy Resources
Use the resources listed below to assist you with college planning and student loans.
- U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 15 to Finish – Graduating On Time
- Paying for College – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) information on financial offers, loans and more
- ISM College Planning promotes educated decision making for higher education choices to students, families and counselors
- MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government’s website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics of finance and money
- The mintGRAD guides you to be money smart and financially fit
- 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy is a Free Program of the nation’s certified public accountants to help Americans understand their personal finances through every stage of life