“In response to a recent study that revealed families often overestimate college tuition costs, the Department of Education has created a new Web site to provide families with information on education costs and funding strategies. The study, conducted by National Center for Education Statistics (www.nces.ed.gov), based its findings on a 1999 survey of 7,900 of the nation’s sixth- to 12th-graders and their parents. In 1998-99, according to the study, the average college tuition at a public, four-year institution was about $3,200, although students and parents estimated it to be close to $6,000. ‘Clearly, there is a real need for public information on college costs and financing. If the desire is there, so are the resources–through federal aid or tax credits that can help students realize their education goals, regardless of their family circumstances,’ said U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige in a prepared statement.
The new Web site (www.studentaid.ed.gov) features information about federal financial aid programs, tax credits and links to private scholarship sites. Visitors can find federal financial aid applications, aid calculation tools and loan repayment information, and a student profile tool to help students find a school to match their interests.”