Saturday, May 17, 2008, 2:58AM ET - U.S. Markets Closed.

Preparing for College

Borrow Smarter: 5 Savvy Ways to Afford College

If you need help paying for higher education, look into these programs, the majority of which are backed by the federal government...  read more

• Best and Worst 529 College-Savings Plans
• The New Rules of Financing College
• Should You Tap Your 401(k) to Afford Tuition?
• Top Schools Aren't Just for the Privileged Few
• Tarnished Credit? Land a Student Loan Anyway
• Beware of These Thirteen Financial Aid Pitfalls
• Dodge These Campus Credit Card Ploys
• Get Sick Kids Home Affordably Via...Airlift?

View College & Education basics

Top Stories

• Climbing To Job-Board HeavenInvestor's Business Daily - Fri, May 16, 2008
• Investment firms' borrowing at fairly steady paceAP - Thu, May 15, 2008
• Market Spotlight: Student lenders put to testAP - Wed, May 14, 2008
• Sallie Mae computer error causes credit scores to plungeCNNMoney.com - Wed, May 14, 2008

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Most Popular Articles

• American Axle and UAW reach tentative agreementReuters - Sat, May 17 - 2:07am ET
• Univision Crowns Second Winner of ''Nuestra Belleza Latina''Business Wire - Sat, May 17 - 12:00am ET
• Cisco Increases Donation to $1 Million for China Earthquake ReliefMarketwire - Fri, May 16 - 10:36pm ET
• King of the Quants: A Conversation with Emanuel Derman (Part 2)TradingMarkets.com - Fri, May 16 - 9:51pm ET

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How-To Guides

• Section 529 Savings Plans
• Saving for College: Investment Strategies
• Prepaid Tuition Plans
• Series E and EE Savings Bonds
• View more how-to guides

Calculators

• What is my current cash flow?
• How much should I save to reach my goal?
• How much will college cost?
• What is the value of a college education?
• What would my loan payments be?
• View more calculators

Expert Opinion

There Is No Student Loan Credit Crunch

By Anya Kamenetz

There may be a silver lining to the credit upheaval -- a market that steers more students toward safer, cheaper loans.

• The Big Issues for Young Votersby Anya Kamenetz
• Getting an Ivy League Education -- on the Cheapby Anya Kamenetz
• Buy Now, Pay Foreverby Anya Kamenetz

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» View all finance videos

Rates

See today's average rates across the country.

• Mortgage

  Loan Type	Today	Last Week
  30 Year Fixed	5.76%	5.69%
  15 Year Fixed	5.36%	5.28%
  1 Year ARM	5.90%	5.85%
  30 Year Fixed Jumbo	7.04%	6.97%
  5/1 ARM	5.23%	5.09%
  3/1 ARM	5.20%	5.02%

  Source: Bankrate
• Home Equity

  Loan Type	Today	Last Week
  $30K Home Equity Loan	7.51%	7.42%
  $50K Home Equity Loan	7.37%	7.26%
  $75K Home Equity Loan	7.56%	7.50%
  $30K HELOC	5.01%	5.02%
  $50K HELOC	4.49%	4.17%
  $75K HELOC	4.48%	4.16%

  Source: Bankrate
• Savings

  Savings Type	Today	Last Week
  6 month CD	2.72%	2.76%
  1 year CD	3.03%	3.03%
  3 year CD	3.26%	3.18%
  MMA	2.33%	2.35%
  $10K MMA	2.52%	2.54%
  $25K MMA	2.90%	2.93%

  Source: Bankrate
• Auto

  Loan Type	Today	Last Week
  36 Month New Car Loan	6.80%	6.66%
  48 Month New Car Loan	6.92%	6.58%
  60 Month New Car Loan	6.64%	6.57%
  72 Month New Car Loan	7.19%	7.10%
  36 Month Used Car Loan	7.16%	7.17%
  48 Month Used Car Loan	7.05%	6.89%

  Source: Bankrate
• Credit Cards

  Card Type	Today	Last Week
  Balance Transfer	10.31%	10.03%
  Low Interest	11.01%	10.97%
  For Bad Credit	13.02%	13.12%
  Cash Back	11.47%	11.46%
  Business	11.10%	10.91%
  Airline	12.75%	12.69%

  Source: CreditCards.com

View rates in your area

Top 5 Questions & Answers

Ask a financial question and get answers from real people on Yahoo! Answers.

• Can a defaulted student loan be consolidated?
  Asked by Julia
• Can I write off my son's private school tuition for taxes?
• will financial aid cover me getting an apartment?
• Who has the best PRIVATE student loan rates right now for someone with good credit.?
• How do I hide my money from the college financial aid people?

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