College students and brand-new graduates entering the workforce are the backbone of our future successes and financial sustainability. Financially literate habits will ensure that our future is in smart, capable hands.
These financial literacy skills that you learn before transitioning into the real world will fuel your goals, plans, and entrepreneurial desires for the rest of your life. Having a strong foundation, and practicing money management as a student, can provide you the experience you need to grow and flourish.
This page contains helpful resources, programs, and interactive tools to help you get started or build upon your financial knowledge.
programs
iGrad | |
Sign up for a free accounts and get access to financial literacy courses, tools, iGrad advisors, management tools, and more! | |
GreenPath Financial Wellness | |
A free program available to all students through the Harvard University Employee Credit Union. GreenPath offers free credit and debt counseling over the phone. On their online platform they offer a wide variety of financial education tools and resources including videos, e-courses, games, calculators and more. | |
CashCourse for Students | |
Register for free to find your assignments and other financial tools and start taking charge of your money! | |
resources
What To Do If Your Income is Interrupted | |
Lost income can hit anyone at any time and college students are particularly vulnerable to income disruptions or drops in pay. In this guide, AffordableCollegesOnline.org walks through ways college students can reduce expenses and increase income, including requesting emergency assistance from their school and applying for more financial aid should there be an interruption in income. | |
Money 101 Student Workbook | |
A Crash Course in Better Money Management For College Student. | |
Take Control of Your Credit Score | |
Learn the essentials of credit scoring: what a credit score is, how it’s calculated, why it’s important, and tips on how to improve your score or keep it in top form. | |
Student Loans: It’s Not Free Money | |
To minimize borrowing, look for scholarships, grants, and work-study programs since those don’t have to be repaid. | |
Financial Aid Basics | |
College is expensive, but financial aid can make it a lot cheaper. Learn the basics of financial aid here. | |
Tips for Paying Off Student Loans | |
Here are five tips on how to pay off student loans fast! | |
5 Financial Mistakes New Graduates Must Avoid | |
How graduates approach financial planning in the first few years after college can set the tone for their financial habits down the road. By adhering to a strategy and plan, recent college graduates can avoid mistakes in how they deal with their personal finances. | |
Good Investment Tips for College Students | |
Explore good investment tips for college students and start saving for the future. Learn about types of accounts, robo-advisers, and resources for beginners. | |
Buying Your First Car: A Guide for Students | |
Though the insufficient supply of cars has caused prices to increase and limited inventory, it is still possible to buy a quality car on a budget as a college student. This guide explains how to buy and manage your first car, and what pitfalls to avoid. | |
tools
Student Budget Calculator | |
Use this calculator to help analyze your budget as a full-time student. | |
FAFSA Loan Simulator | |
Calculate student loan payments and choose a loan repayment option that best meets your needs and goals. | |
Pay Off Student Loan or Invest Calculator | |
The first step toward understanding what you should be saving or investing compared to how much you are expediting your student loan payments is your budget. Understand what you can afford to put toward each of your goals, debt repayment included, before making a decision one way or another. | |
Your Future Income Calculator | |
Use the link below to research likely starting salaries for the type of job you’ll be looking for. Then, use the other tools in this section to see how that translates to a monthly paycheck and build a future budget for your future paycheck. | |