Introduction to 529 Plans - Colleg­e Saving Plans­
­A 529 plan is a college ­savings plan designed to help parents ­and students save for future college costs. These plans are also known as “qualified tuition plans,”. All fifty states and the District of Columbia have at least one 529 plan and are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions and are authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. ­ There are two types of 529 plans:­

1. Pre-paid tu­ition plans
2. College savings plans ­

­What are the differences between pre-paid tuition plans and college savings plans?
Features of Prepaid Tuition Plan:
1. Locks in tuition prices at eligible public and private colleges and universities.

Scholarships for Minorities

Minority scholarships also known as diversity scholarships by colleges are designed for men and women who belong to a minority group and excel in academics. Minority scholarship are issued by various federal and state authorities, colleges and universities, private charities and businesses. Almost all scholarship agencies believe that ethnic minorities and women are at a disadvantage when it comes to their white counterparts. Therefore, they all have scholarships for ethnic minorities as well as women. However, recently there has been a news that The College Republicans of Boston University are offering a Caucasian Achievement and Recognition Scholarship. But below is the list of the scholarships most of the institutions have :

1. African American

2, Asian / Indian Subcontinent

3. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT)

4. Hispanic

5. Multi-racial

College Athletic Scholarships
Athletic scholarships are designed for men and women who excel in both academics and athletics. Based on the ancient Greek philosophy, a perfect human is the one who is both physically and mentally strong. That is why the very first Olympics were held in Greece at the same stadium where ancient Greek held their athletic activities centuries ago. And this is exactly why, the very first known university in the western countries was opened in Greece. Since the western education system has inherited Greek ways of doing thing, it takes pride in rewarding students who excel at both the academics and sports. Nowadays, sports scholarships have become like a salary for most of the students. They earn them for playing well. They make enough money through these scholarships that unlike other students they do not need a part time job to pay for their expenses. Most of the institutions have :

There are several ways to attend a college for free.
Scholarships: If you have a talent, excel in science, excel in academics, excel in athletics, belong to a minority group or have a disability then you may qualify for a scholarship. Your local charities and non-profits may have some scholarships for you too.
Financial Aid: : You may qualify for the financial aid from the federal govt. if your parents’ income is below a certain level or if you can prove that you are not dependent on your parents.

Below is the criteria to qualify for a Student Loan Consolidation

1. If you have at least $20,000 in Federal student loans, then you may qualify for the Federal Student Loan consolidation.