You’ve decided that college or graduate school is your ticket to a better career or the path to advancement in your current job. Or maybe you just want to take a few classes to upgrade your skills. Either way, returning to school as an adult has its challenges. You’ve probably heard the expression “time is money.” Well, you’ll need plenty of both.
Where Will You Find the Money?
Returning to school often involves financial sacrifices, but there are ways to lessen the bite. Personal savings, financial aid, private loans and employer-funded tuition may be available to you, and education tax credits and deductions can help you out at tax time.
The first thing to do is calculate how much your education will cost. Make sure to add in collateral expenses that won’t show up on the college bill (e.g., day-care and commuting expenses). And if you’re giving up your job, factor in the time you’ll be without a paycheck, and the time it might take you to find a job in your new profession. Then, if you can’t afford to pay your education expenses out-of-pocket, go look for the money.
Ask Your Employer
Unless you’re leaving your job to attend school, ask your employer about tuition reimbursement. There may be strings attached, though (e.g., you may need to certify that you’re not retraining for a new career, or promise to work at the company for a number of years after you graduate). The good news is that up to $5,250 of employer-provided educational assistance is tax free, even if it’s for classes that are unrelated to your current position. For more information, see IRS Publication 508, Tax Benefits for Work-Related Education.
Learn About Financial Aid—Your First Academic Experience
The maze of student financial aid programs can seem like another obstacle in your quest to return to school, but the process is understandable if you do some research and ask questions. Start at your school’s financial aid office.
To qualify for federal aid, you’ll need to submit the federal government’s application, the FAFSA, as soon as possible after January 1st in the year you plan to start school. The FAFSA calculates your expected family contribution (EFC), and lets you know if you’re eligible for financial aid. You’ll be classified as an independent student, which means that if you’re married, both your income and assets and your spouse’s will count in this calculation.
There are different types of federal financial aid:
Loans
The three main federal student loans are the Stafford Loan, the Perkins Loan, and the PLUS Loan. Stafford Loans can be either subsidized or unsubsidized (for subsidized loans, the federal government pays the interest that accrues during school, the grace period after graduation, and loan deferment periods). Undergraduate students are eligible for both types of Stafford Loans and the Perkins Loan. Graduate students are eligible for the unsubsidized Stafford Loan, the Perkins Loan, and the PLUS Loan. Both Stafford and Perkins Loans have annual and cumulative borrowing limits. The drawback of student loans is that you’ll need to repay them at a later date. With the federal grad PLUS Loan, graduate and professional students are eligible to borrow the full cost of their education (minus any financial aid received).
Grants
The two main federal grants are the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). They’re available only to undergraduate students.
Work-Study
The federal work-study program subsidizes jobs for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Military Aid
The federal government offers educational benefits for veterans and their dependents. Contact your local veteran’s office or your school’s financial aid office.
If you don’t qualify for federal financial aid (and you should always apply, even if you don’t think you’ll qualify), you may still be eligible for institutional aid from your school–specifically grants, scholarships, and work-study programs. Inquire at the financial aid office and do your best to meet all application deadlines, because institutional aid is typically administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Finally, don’t forget to search for outside scholarships. Thousands of private organizations offer them, and some are based solely on achievement. An easy way to search for scholarships is on the Internet, but don’t pay anyone to do it for you—searching is free.
Keep in mind that the federal government and colleges base your aid eligibility on last year’s tax records. If you plan to reduce your hours or stop working to attend school, your income will obviously be less when school starts. Make sure to bring this to the attention of your school’s financial aid director, who’s authorized to take special circumstances into account, and where appropriate, rebalance aid awards.
Take a Trip to the Bank
If you don’t qualify for financial aid or you need to borrow more than the federal student loan limits, private loans from commercial lenders are an option. However, the rates on private loans are typically one or two percentage points higher than on federal student loans.
Use Personal Assets
Do you have savings that could cover a portion of your expenses? Or maybe you could sell some assets. Just remember that tapping your retirement funds should be a last resort–money you withdraw will reduce your nest egg and miss out on the potential for tax-deferred growth. And, depending on the type of retirement account you tap, you may also face tax consequences and penalties for withdrawing money before age 59½.
Investigate Education Tax Credits and Deductions
In addition to the tax break noted above for employer-provided educational assistance, there are several other tax incentives that can help ease the financial burden of returning to school:
American Opportunity Credit
This credit is worth up to $2,500 in 2012 for tuition and related expenses for the first four years of undergraduate education, provided you’re enrolled at least half-time. To take the full credit, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be below $80,000 (single) or $160,000 (married filing jointly). A partial credit is available to single filers with a MAGI between $80,000 and $90,000 and joint filers with a MAGI between $160,000 and $180,000.
Lifetime Learning Credit
This credit is worth up to $2,000 in 2012 to cover the tuition and fees for higher education courses taken throughout your lifetime, whether to acquire or improve job skills. To take the full credit, your MAGI must be below $52,000 (single) or $104,000 (married filing jointly). A partial credit is available to single filers with a MAGI between $52,000 and $62,000 and joint filers with a MAGI between $104,000 and $124,000. Unfortunately, the American Opportunity credit and Lifetime Learning credit can’t be claimed in the same year for the same student–it’s one or the other.
Student Loan Interest Deduction
If you graduate with student loans, you can deduct up to $2,500 of the interest you pay on student loans each year. To take the full deduction in 2012, your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) must be below $60,000 (single) or $125,000 (married filing jointly). A partial deduction is available to single filers with a MAGI between $60,000 and $75,000 and joint filers with a MAGI between $125,000 and $155,000.
For assistance or more information, consult a tax professional or IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.
Finally, How Will You Balance School, Career and Life?
You’ve found the money—now you need to find the time. Balancing school demands with the rest of your adult responsibilities will be challenging, though not impossible. Here are some tips:
- Map out your life goals (again) to confirm that returning to school will help you achieve them.
- Establish a family/friend support network before classes start, and make sure your family supports your decision to return to school.
- If you have older children, explain your new routine and how they can help out. If you have younger children, arrange day care if necessary–check to see if your school offers it.
- Look for programs designed for adult students (e.g., support groups, tutoring programs, specially trained academic advisors and counselors).
- Consider going to school part-time, taking night classes, or signing up for online classes. Each option can save you time and money.
- Always keep in mind the financial and personal rewards that will come after your education is complete.
If you have questions, contact the Financial Experts at Henssler Financial: 770-429-9166 or experts@henssler.com.
Disclosures:
The following information is reprinted with permission from Forefield, a division of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and current, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The contents are intended for general information purposes only. Information provided should not be the sole basis in making any decisions and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional, such as a tax consultant, insurance adviser or attorney. Although this material is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with respect to the subject matter, it may not apply in all situations. Readers are urged to consult with their adviser concerning specific situations and questions. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any financial instruments. It is not our intention to state, indicate or imply in any manner that current or past results are indicative of future profitability or expectations. As with all investments, there are associated inherent risks. Please obtain and review all financial material carefully before investing.
