NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Financial aid author and national scholar Kristina Ellis, known for her expertise in the world of college scholarships, is sharing her wisdom on strategic financial planning in HOW TO GRADUATE DEBT FREE: THE BEST STRATEGIES TO PAY FOR COLLEGE (Aug. 9, 2016; Worthy Publishing; ISBN: 978-1617957437).
Lacking financial support upon high school graduation, Ellis devised a plan that enabled her to secure more than $500,000 in scholarships and grants, and graduate from Vanderbilt University and receive a master’s degree from Belmont University, all debt free. In HOW TO GRADUATE DEBT FREE, Ellis, author of the bestselling Confessions of a Scholarship Winner, takes her dedication to helping others find the success and financial freedom she found a step further. In this book, she guides readers through a step-by-step process on how to plan, save and graduate free of crippling debt.
Covering everything from how to save money and earn college credit before attending a university, to securing financial aid and maximizing your investment, she covers it all including:
- Where to Put Your Money. 529 plans, Coverdell education savings accounts, Roth IRAs … she helps parents understand where to invest their money.
- Securing scholarships ... take it from her, the expert. She wrote Confessions of a Scholarship Winner prior to this book, and she graduated from Vanderbilt University on scholarship money alone.
- Pay as You Go. Ellis discusses a range of manageable job options students can consider as a means of earning and saving money while also balancing their school workload.
- Student Assets. Money in a student’s bank account is counted against a student at a rate of 20 percent. Be mindful about savings and consider how it could affect your financial aid eligibility.
- College ROI. Consider a school far beyond its “prestige factor.” Students should focus on the net price, four-year completion rate and their future earning potential.
Ellis’s fresh take on paying for college encourages readers to make a plan and get ahead as soon as possible to create a path to graduating debt free. Her relatable and candid take on the topic creates practical and inspiring steps for students and parents wanting to avoid the treacherous road of student loan debt.