ECMC expands free college planning resources for Oregon students

OAKDALE, Minn., Oct. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ECMC is pleased to offer free resources for individuals planning to attend college. These materials and tools are applicable to all students, whether considering a trade school, community college or four-year university. New this year, ECMC is offering Pell Abacus (described below) in addition to its other resources.

"Planning for college can be challenging, and ECMC is working to help simplify the process with a user-friendly guide, workshops and online tools," said Paula Craw, director of outreach and financial literacy. "In keeping with our nonprofit mission of helping students succeed, we are pleased to provide all of these resources at no charge, and encourage students, their families, school counselors, teachers, administrators, community organizations and others to take full advantage of them." 

Available Resources:

2015-2016 Opportunities: Preparing for college guide and workbook. This is the 11th annual release of this free college planning publication that provides students and families with information and tools to guide their pursuit of postsecondary education. Opportunities books are available in English and Spanish and can be ordered or downloaded at www.ecmc.org/opportunities. 

College Nights. For the ninth consecutive year, ECMC-sponsored College Nights will be held at various locations throughout Oregon from October 15—November 15. This fall's events have been expanded to include additional locations, focusing on high schools that serve a student population where 50 percent or more are eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program. This is a free event for students and their families designed to help simplify the college planning process. Scholarship drawings will be held at each of these events. More information is available at www.collegenights.org.

College Abacus. College Abacus is a free online tool that allows students and families to calculate and compare their individualized net costs across more than 5,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. College Abacus can be found at www.collegeabacus.org.

Pell Abacus. College Abacus recently added Pell Abacus, a new online offering designed to meet the unique challenges facing Pell-eligible students when researching and applying for college. Pell Abacus simplifies the college search process by asking just one financial question: "Do you qualify for free or reduced lunch?" Pell Abacus can be found at www.pellabacus.org.

Social media. ECMC provides money management tips and resources on Facebook and via Twitter to help students plan for college and life beyond college. 

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecmcfab
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ecmcfab

About ECMC
Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to help students succeed. ECMC works to lower student loan default rates; sponsors college access and success initiatives and financial literacy programs; and provides resources to support student loan borrowers in successfully repaying their loans.

SOURCE Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC)