Refinancing to Pay for College or Education Costs

Studies show that college graduates earn more money and are more likely to be able to hold a job than people who don’t attend college. CollegeBoard.org reports that in 2020, people with a bachelor’s degree who worked full-time earned $24,100, more on average than those who held just a high school diploma.

Most parents want to provide their children with any advantage they can, and a strong education can be the path by which children can gain independence and a secure future. The cost of college can be paid in three ways: before, during or after college — and the costs can be exorbitant for all three. That’s why many people investigate the option of refinancing their existing mortgage.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in addressing questions regarding the trends around college costs and tuition, they state:

For the 2012–13 academic year, annual current dollar prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board were estimated to be $15,022 at public institutions, $39,173 at private non-profit institutions, and $23,158 at private for-profit institutions. Between 2002–03 and 2012–13, prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board at public institutions rose 39 percent, and prices at private nonprofit institutions rose 27 percent, after adjustment for inflation.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2015). Digest of Education Statistics, 2013 (NCES 2015-011), Chapter 3.

Average total tuition, fees, and room and board rates charged for full-time undergraduate students in degree-granting institutions, by type and control of institution: Selected year, 2012–13.

	All	4 Year	2 Year
All Institutions	$20,234	$23,872	$9,574
Public Institutions	$15,022	$17,474	$8,572
Private Non-Profit & For-Profit Institutions	$34,483	$35,074	$23,328

If you have not saved for college prior to your child’s senior year of high school, you may be struggling to pay for college now. Borrowing money for college expenses may be your only option to pay for tuition, room and board, books, travel, etc. You are not alone. Many find themselves facing this same challenge without a personalized financial strategy. Divito Lending can help with this challenge and, together, we can help you make smart decisions about paying for college.

If refinancing is the right option for you, Divito Lending will help you select the best loan for your needs and walk you through the refinance process. Before refinancing, let’s look at other college payment strategies to explore:

Free Money

Scholarships and Grants — In addition to academic, athletic and artistic scholarships, you can check online for a wide variety of unusual scholarships that are based on hobbies and interests, how tall you are, where you live, and your family roots.
Financial aid based on low income.

Earned Money and Financing

Federal and private loans
Work study programs

In addition to the options above, you can speak with us today to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a cash-out refinance.

Advantages vs. Disadvantages

Advantages

A cash-out refinance will give you money in a lump sum that you can use to pay for college expenses.

The cash-out refinance interest rate may be lower than other education loan options available to you.

The cash-out refinance could offer a tax deduction. Consult with a professional tax advisor to be sure.

Disadvantages

When a prospective college student fills out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to obtain federal student loans and financial aid, the government will look at the parents’ income and savings to calculate expected family contribution. The more you have, the less money your student will qualify for in terms of loans and financial aid. You can argue that you can fill out the FASFA and be granted loans and aid before you refinance, but, while that is true, you need to fill out the FAFSA each year. So, every year after the first year, you could be less likely to get loans and financial aid due to the additional funds received from the refinance.
When using your home’s equity to pay your debt, your’re putting your home at risk if you cannot repay the loan, so it’s important to ensure that if you do decide to refinance that you are modifying your mortgage to more favorable terms, whether it means a lower rate or for a shorter time period.
There are costs associated with refinancing. In some cases, these costs can be absorbed into the refinanced mortgage and are spread out over time, but these costs should not be overlooked. For these reasons, we may recommend a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC).

‭(800) 286-3235‬

Info@Divito-Lending.com

Refinancing to Pay for College or Education Costs