College Students Are Contributing More to Their Higher Education Costs, Survey Finds

Students reported methods of paying for college have shifted the past three years

WILMINGTON, Del., April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A student's personal financial contributions play an increasingly important role in obtaining a college degree. For the first time since 2019, the annual College Ave Student Loans survey of college students at four-year universities conducted by Barnes & Noble College Insights™ finds that the student's personal income and savings ranks second (its highest ever) and ahead of the parent's personal income and savings as a top method used to pay for college. There are other significant changes during the same time span, including less merit aid, less parental support, and more private student loans.

Though students are contributing more towards their college education, surprisingly less feel stressed about the cost of college (68% in 2022 vs. 83% in 2021) and more feel strongly that a college degree is important for their future (85% in 2022 vs. 78% in 2021).

"Undergraduate students are deeply committed to their higher education," said Joe DePaulo, Co-Founder and CEO of College Ave Student Loans. "Our survey highlights the students' investment in their college journey, and their strong belief that a college degree is a crucial milestone on the path toward their successful future."

Though college students may feel down on their finances, the survey shows many have solid financial skills. "Broke," "expensive," and "stressful" are the top three words that came to students' minds when thinking about their current financial situation. However, many students feel confident in understanding checking accounts (62%), savings accounts (59%) and budgeting (55%). Around half have a job (51%), keep a personal budget (50%) and are willing to make financial tradeoffs, such as not dining out or other activities, due to cost (49%).

Students are also investing in their future – 43% are saving while in college and 17% have been able to invest, too. With credit cards, 47% feel they have a good understanding of the financial product. However, about 1 in 5 (18%) report they currently have credit card debt. The survey also finds that cyrptocurrency is the least understood financial term among students, with only 12% feeling confident on the topic.

As compared to other financial terms, students feel uncomfortable about their knowledge around student loans, with only 27% reporting feeling confident about the financial product. Though most students who have student loans understand they will pay back more than they borrow (78%) – 64% feel their student loan payment will be more than they anticipated and only 26% know what their monthly student loan payment will be when they graduate. The good news – almost 1 in 5 (18%) are making student loan payments while in school, a financial decision that can save money.

For students who want to ace student loan borrowing or repayment, College Ave offers the following tips:

• Borrow federal loans in the student's name first. These loans come with unique benefits and protections not typically offered by private student loan lenders.
  
  
  
• Don't borrow more than your first year's salary. Less than half of student's considered their future salary when borrowing student loans (46%). A good rule of thumb: do not borrow in total more than you expect to earn in your first year out of school. By doing so, you give yourself a good chance to repay the loan within 10 years or less.
  
  
  
• Make a plan to repay. More than half of students who have student loans will repay them without help from their parents (57%). The first step is to get organized – know your student loan servicer, make sure they have your current information, and find out how much your monthly loan payment will be upon graduation. You may also want to enroll in automatic payments, which can ensure payments are made on time and could also lead to a reduced interest rates from lenders like College Ave. The College Ave app also makes repayments simple and easy to do from your mobile device. By having a good handle on your student loans, it will set you up for a stronger financial future.

For more tips and resources on how to plan and pay for college, visit: https://www.collegeavestudentloans.com/blog/.

About College Ave Student Loan
College Ave Student Loans started with a big vision and a simple mission – take the stress out of paying for college so students can focus on preparing for a bright future. Now a leading fintech lending company, College Ave remains committed to using best-in-class technology and deep industry expertise to deliver practical and personal solutions that give young adults a running start on their roads to financial success. We offer best in class products with competitive rates and a customer-friendly experience from start to finish. Visit: www.collegeavestudentloans.com

About the Survey
The College Ave Student Loans survey was conducted by Barnes & Noble College Insights™. The national online survey of parents of undergraduate students who attend a 4-year college or university at one of the campuses served by Barnes & Noble College had 1,111 respondents and was fielded in March 2022. Last year, Barnes & Noble College Insights conducted more than 50 research studies and 100+ survey polls of students, faculty and parents that interact with one of its more than 770+ campus bookstores across the nation.

SOURCE College Ave Student Loans