Wealth Management Insights
    How will your children pay for college?
    May 2012
As high school seniors celebrate graduation, many of their parents are already thinking about the large bills that will accompany the start of college in the fall – especially with student loan interest rates set to double in July unless Congress acts to prevent it. Meanwhile a number of schools have already announced 2012–2013 tuition increases and the price of higher education continues to rise at a time when most household incomes are not. Baird’s Wealth Management Insight brief for May offers ideas to help you and your child make this important investment wisely.
What you should know:
1.
College is one of the largest investments most individuals make.
However it is funded, higher education is a substantial expense for any family. For the 2011–2012 academic year, published averages for tuition, fees, room and board combined were:
  • $17,131 for in-state public four-year institutions (up 6.0% from 2010-11)1
  • $29,657 for out-of-state public four-year institutions (up 5.2%)1
  • $38,589 at private nonprofit four-year institutions (up 4.4%)1
With a total price tag that could range from $70,000-$155,000, a four-year college education isn’t something most American families are in a position to pay for with cash on hand. And that range does not account for the possible impact of increasing inflation on living expenses or increases in tuition and fees (see below).
 
2.
 Future tuition increases are extremely likely.
While last year’s double-digit tuition hikes at public colleges in California, Arizona and Nevada weren’t normal, the cost of college tuition alone has increased annually by an average of 5.6%1 beyond the rate of inflation at four-year public institutions over the past decade. The chart on the next page shows projected annual tuition costs at private and public schools, assuming similar increases through 2022.

Annual Cost of College
3.
 Student loans may look less attractive soon.
While federal aid is widely accessible to many lower-income families, the law that lowered interest rates on government subsidized loans in each of the last four years is set to expire on July 1. That would effectively double the interest rate on these loans from 3.4% to 6.8%. This is one of several factors to consider where loans are concerned:
  • Income restrictions may disqualify the children of some families from eligibility for subsidized loans however, regardless of your circumstances; it is recommended that you or your child fill out the Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Forms are available at fafsa.ed.gov..
  • The deadline to submit the FAFSA is the end of June for the current school year (so if your child is already in college, you can still fill out a form for 2011–2012 and submit it by midnight on June 30).
  • States and individual schools usually offer additional financial aid opportunities and their individual deadlines can vary. So be sure to contact your school of choice early when exploring your options.
4.
 May is “529 Month.”
State-sponsored 529 plans provide a tax-advantaged way to set aside money for the cost of a child’s education while taking full advantage of compounding over time.
  • Family and friends are all free to make contributions, which can qualify them for an income tax deduction in many states.
  • Accelerated gifting techniques for 529 plans offer the option for donors to maximize their contributions in a single year.
  • Earnings grow tax-deferred and are not subject to federal tax on withdrawals used for qualified higher education expenses.
What you should do now:

A child’s education is an important investment in their future, and a subject worth doing your homework on. Investigate your financial aid options carefully and talk to your financial advisor annually about your investments and savings plans for the future college graduate in your life.

1Trends in College Pricing 2011 (The College Board)

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses associated with a 529 plan before investing. This and other information is available in a plan’s official statement. The official statement can be obtained from your financial advisor and should be read carefully before investing.

Depending on your state of residence, there may be an in-state plan that provides tax and other benefits not available through an out-of-state plan. Before investing in any state’s 529 plan, you should consult your tax adviser.

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