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A close-up shot of a businessperson, dressed in a white shirt and black tie, carefully placing personal items into a cardboard box on a white office desk. The person's face is not visible, emphasizing the act of packing. Inside the box, a picture frame, a small potted plant, and decorative black berries are discernible, suggesting a recent termination or "tech layoff" as discussed in the article. The background shows a modern office environment with large windows, blurred office chairs, and desks, indicating a corporate setting. This image powerfully illustrates the current struggles faced by young workers in the tech industry, including college graduates and soon-to-be graduates, who are experiencing fewer job opportunities and a tougher path into the sector due to mass layoffs and a reshaping of early-career hiring patterns. Source: The College Investor
News
November 17, 2025

Tech Layoffs Are Reshaping The Job Market For College Grads

Tech layoffs and AI spending are cutting entry-level roles and internships, leaving students with fewer paths into the industry.

A minimalist illustration depicts three stylized plants, each with a bright yellow coin featuring a dollar sign as its bloom, symbolizing the concept of "guaranteed return on investment" and how money can grow. The plants are dark grey with smaller, dark grey circular leaves, standing on a subtle grey line that represents the ground. The background is a clean white with abstract orange plus signs and black dots arranged in a square pattern in the upper right, adding a modern and analytical feel. The logo "THE COLLEGE INVESTOR" is visible in the upper left corner. This image visually represents the article's discussion on investment products that offer a fixed rate of return, contrasting with the volatility of stocks and real estate, and highlighting legitimate types of guaranteed returns such as I-Bonds and TIPS. Source: The College Investor
Investing
November 17, 2025

Is There Such A Thing As A Guaranteed Return On Investment?

A guaranteed return on investment is a fixed rate of return you can count on. But there are downsides to chasing investment guarantees. Find out more.

A graphic on a blue background illustrates the concept of managing average student loan monthly payments. A white calendar with a red circle highlighting a specific date in the middle signifies the recurring nature of monthly payments. Surrounding the calendar are various financial elements: several gold coins with dollar signs, representing money and debt, and scattered banknotes, including two showing the number "100," further emphasizing financial transactions. In the background, faded white line art icons depict common student life and financial elements such as a globe, an envelope, a lightbulb, pencils, speech bubbles, and gears, alluding to education, communication, planning, and the complexities of student loan debt. The text "THE COLLEGE INVESTOR" is prominently displayed in white in the bottom left corner, reinforcing the article's source and focus on financial guidance for college students and borrowers. Source: The College Investor
Student Loans
November 16, 2025

What Is The Average Monthly Student Loan Payment?

The average monthly student loan payment in the US is $503. See what the average borrower can expect to pay on each type of repayment plan.

A cheerful group of diverse cartoon graduates, some with light brown skin, some with fair skin, and some with darker skin, are depicted in two rows against a solid light blue background, symbolizing the completion of higher education. Each graduate wears a traditional black cap and gown, with various hair colors and styles peeking out from beneath their caps, indicating different ages and backgrounds. This image visually represents the millions of Americans who have earned a bachelor's degree and often carry student loan debt, directly correlating with the article's focus on "Average Student Loan Debt" and how these amounts compare by graduating class. The bottom left corner prominently displays "THE COLLEGE INVESTOR" logo, reinforcing the financial literacy and investment context of the accompanying article. Source: The College Investor
Student Loans
November 16, 2025

Average Student Loan Debt By Year (Graduating Class)

We break down the average student loan debt by year for each graduating class and highlight the trend of growing student loan debt.

An illustration depicting a graduation cap acting as a collection plate, filled with several folded dollar bills, symbolizing the various ways to pay for college without relying solely on student loans. The image also shows the lower legs and feet of a person wearing dark pants and black dress shoes with light brown laces, positioned as if stepping away from or towards the cap. The background is a textured grey, suggesting a neutral or contemplative setting. Below the cap, a red graduation tassel lies on the ground, and to the left, the logo "THE COLLEGE INVESTOR" is visible, reinforcing the article's focus on financial strategies for higher education. This visual effectively introduces the article's core message about exploring alternatives to student loans for financing college education. Source: The College Investor
Financial Aid
November 16, 2025

How To Pay For College: The Best Order Of Operations

Here’s how to pay for college, with the best order of operations to maximize financial aid and minimize student loan debt.

A close-up, slightly upward-angled shot of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) federal building's entrance in Washington D.C., USA, emphasizing its prominent stone facade and the bold, black carved letters spelling "INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE" above the doorway. The classic, ornate architectural details, including decorative dark rosettes flanking the text and intricately carved stone trim, are clearly visible. The image conveys a sense of official authority and directly relates to the article discussing the IRS's annual inflation adjustments for retirement accounts, specifically the raised 2026 contribution limits for 401(k) and IRA plans, as detailed in Notice 2025-67.
News
November 16, 2025

IRS Announces Official 2026 IRA And 401k Contribution Limits

The IRS officially raised the 2026 contribution limits for 401(k)s, IRAs, SIMPLE plans, and saver credits.

A vibrant, minimalist illustration on a white background visually represents the concept of how to research stocks for beginners, central to the article's focus on investing in stocks for a smart financial future. The primary element is a large red magnifying glass, prominently centered, with its handle extending diagonally downwards to the left. Inside the magnifying glass, candlestick charts are depicted in red and white, symbolizing market trends and stock analysis. Around the magnifying glass, several financial icons are scattered, including dollar signs in red circles and plus signs, suggesting growth and strategic investment. In the upper right corner, an upward-trending black arrow signifies increasing stock values and successful investment portfolio growth. The overall image reinforces the article's message that researching stocks doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but rather an accessible skill to learn the basics and get started.
Stocks
November 16, 2025

How To Research Stocks For Beginners

Investing in stocks can be overwhelming, so make sure you research and learn the basics. Here’s what you need to know.

Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
November 16, 2025

Guide To Renters Insurance For College Students

Here is the ultimate guide to renters insurance policies, with quotes and coverage options for college students and traditional renters.

This image is a minimalist, two-toned graphic illustrating college cost estimates and financial planning. The left side, set against a light background, features outlined icons in black and green, including a pie chart with one slice highlighted in green, a magnifying glass, a graduation cap, and various geometric shapes like a plus sign, dots, and a triangle, all representing different aspects of college expenses. The right side is dominated by a large calculator with a dollar sign on its screen and two coins marked with "1" underneath it, all set against a solid green background. This visual effectively conveys the article's focus on calculating and understanding the true cost of attendance (COA), including direct and indirect costs like tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and transportation, and the importance of budgeting before borrowing for higher education.
Admissions
November 15, 2025

How Accurate Are College Cost Estimates? Hint: Not Very

A new report uncovers why published college costs often fall short of reality, leaving students with financial gaps that exceed $10,000.

A close-up, slightly blurred image of a spinning top, illustrating the concept of a "spin off" in the financial market. The top has a bright orange and yellow central disc with concentric rings, suggesting rapid motion and energy. A metallic silver ring forms the outer edge, providing stability to the spinning object. The stem and tip of the top are a lighter yellow, pointing downwards, making contact with a subtly textured, light-colored surface. The blur effect emphasizes the dynamic nature of a spin off, where a piece of a parent company is disconnected and made public as its own entity, much like the individual components of the spinning top creating a single, fast-moving object. This visual metaphor directly relates to how companies like Kraft or Abbott Laboratories conduct spin offs, creating new shareholder value and streamlining operations.
Stocks
November 15, 2025

Stock Spin Offs Explained: How They Work and What To Know

Stock spin off events are becoming increasingly common in the business world, and they are great gifts to investors.

The Geisel Library on the UC San Diego campus
News
November 14, 2025

This Week In College And Money News: November 14, 2025

The latest updates on higher education, personal finance, financial aid, and student loans impacting students on college campuses nationwide.

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A man with blonde hair, dressed in a white collared shirt, sits relaxed on a wooden bench with his hands clasped behind his head, gazing out over a calm body of water at sunset. A silver laptop is visible next to him on the bench, suggesting he has just finished working or is taking a break while his investments generate passive income. The warm, soft light of the setting sun creates a tranquil atmosphere, emphasizing the freedom and peace of mind associated with achieving financial independence through passive income streams. This image perfectly illustrates the article's core message about earning money without continuous active effort, highlighting the desired outcome of strategic monetary or time investments.

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MINNEAPOLIS/USA - July 23: Tate Labratory on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota is a university in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN and the 6th largest university in the USA.

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EVANSTON, IL,USA - JUNE 20, 2021 - Entrance sign and gardens to Northwestern University.

Are Expensive Colleges Worth It? New Data on Price, Selectivity, and Graduation Rates

Profile views of a young woman and a young man facing each other, set against a grey background adorned with hand-drawn lightbulbs. A single bright yellow lightbulb glows centrally between them, symbolizing the realization or "bright idea" regarding the shifting gender dynamics in higher education. This visual metaphor accompanies an analysis of the growing gender gap in college degree attainment, where women now outpace men in earning Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. Source: The College Investor

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This image depicts a stylized graphic representing college education and its perceived value, set against a dynamic background of gold and black shapes. A prominent white circular icon in the center showcases a black graduation cap with a tassel, positioned above a rolled-up diploma tied with a ribbon, symbolizing academic achievement and a college degree. To the left, the top of a person's head and shoulders are visible, suggesting a student or individual considering their educational path. The background features various abstract shapes, including long, rounded rectangles in black and gold, smaller white dots, and thin diagonal lines, creating a sense of movement and modern relevance. This visual reinforces the article's theme about Americans weighing in on college costs, education policy, and the worth of a college degree in 2025, particularly given that public sentiment on college value is currently low.

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