Welcome to the Financial Wellness Center

The basics of financial aid, including the types of aid, applying for aid, borrower responsibilities, and repayment strategies.

• Financial Aid Introduction
  Whether you're considering higher education for yourself or starting to plan for the education of your kids, understanding the financial aid process is the first step to meeting your education goals.
• Types of Financial Aid
  The main types of financial aid are education loans, grants and scholarships, work-study, and service programs.
• Creating an Aid Strategy
  Considerations when planning to pay for school, including school choice, employment options, accounting strategies, and the importance of borrowing wisely.
• Understanding Financial Need
  Some aid is based on financial need and some is not. What exactly is "financial need?"
• Applying for Aid
  The aid application process, including descriptions of the FAFSA and Profile forms.
• Education Loans
  A description of the main types of student loans, including government loans, consolidation loans, and private loans.
• Choosing the Right Loan
  Questions every student should be able to answer before taking on a student loan.
• Selecting a Private Loan Lender
  When federal loans are not enough, private lenders such as banks, credit unions, and non-profit lenders can help to fill the gap.
• The Master Promissory Note
  An introduction to the agreement that specifies your rights and responsibilities when accepting a student loan.
• Repaying College Debt
  A look at common repayment plans, including how different plans affect your monthly payment and overall cost.
• Borrowing Wisely
  Making smart choices about student loans, including a description of the impact of loan capitalization.
• Independent Student Status
  Understanding your financial aid dependency status, including a discussion of what to do if the parents of dependent students refuse to help them pay for college.
• Dealing with Too Little Aid
  Why some students find themselves with too little aid and what can be done to make ends meet.

What to do if you're in financial trouble, from creating a debt reduction plan to your rights when dealing with debt collectors.

• Spotting the Signs of Financial Trouble
  Many Americans find themselves in debt, but for some, debt turns into a serious problem with lasting consequences.
• Dealing with Financial Trouble
  If you ever find yourself experiencing financial trouble, there are steps you can take to get back on track and to minimize the damage to your credit.
• Debt Reduction Plans
  Whether you do it yourself or work with a credit counselor, creating a debt reduction plan is an important first step for those with financial trouble.
• Credit Counseling
  The role of credit counseling organizations and how a debt management plan works to restore credit over time.
• Choosing a Credit Counselor
  The best way to find a good credit counselor is to know what questions to ask.
• Credit Repair Scams
  There's a big difference between a non-profit credit counseling service and a credit repair scam. Learn how to tell the difference.
• Debt Collection
  Your rights and responsibilities when dealing with debt collectors.
• Debt Collection and Legal Actions
  What to expect if you are sued over debt.
• Understanding Bankruptcy
  The types of bankruptcy and why bankruptcy should be used only as a last resort.
• Alternative Financial Services
  Understanding why payday loans, check cashing services, and similar services may be bad deals for consumers.

Learn the basics of managing money, including financial health, budgeting, managing credit, plus more.

• Financial Health
  The concept of financial health is the foundation of any financial plan.
• Introduction to Budgeting
  Why budgeting is important, no matter how much money you earn.
• Credit vs. Debit Cards
  Credit and debit cards each have pros and cons. When should you use each?
• Credit Reports and Scores
  Credit reports and scores determine the rates you pay when borrowing and can affect your ability to get certain jobs.
• Managing Accounts
  Account management strategies for checking and savings.
• Building Credit
  Understanding the decisions and behaviors that can lead to improved credit scores.
• Identity Theft
  Understanding ID theft and how to prevent it.
• Financial Goals Exercise
  A goal-setting exercise that includes weekly, monthly, yearly, and long-term goals.

An overview of identity theft, including strategies for preventing it and what to do if it happens to you.

• Identity Theft
  Understanding ID theft and how to prevent it.
• Social Media and Identity Theft
  What you reveal online can compromise your personal and financial security.
• Medical Identity Theft
  Medical identity theft is a little-known form of identity theft with consequences affecting more than just your wallet.
• Avoiding Identity Theft
  The three Ds of identity protection: Deter, Detect and Defend.
• Protecting Your Digital Information
  There are many data backup solutions available designed to protect personal information that vary in their security and ease of use.
• Dealing with Identity Theft
  Understanding the different types of identity theft and what to do in each scenario.