Planning for College
A Comprehensive Guide for South Carolina Families

The future of South Carolina rests entirely on the education of its citizens - health, economic development, and overall wellbeing - all derive from an educated population.

The Alliance for Research on Higher Education is excited to release a roadmap to success for South Carolina's children. Planning for College: A Comprehensive Guide for S.C. Families lays out the journey from early education through college. The Guide is a planner designed specifically for South Carolina families, keying on in-state schools (public and private, 2-year and 4-year) and financial aid.

Experts from across South Carolina have come together for the sole purpose of helping you plan for college and for a successful career. Authors represent technical colleges, four-year universities, research universities, and public and private institutions. Chapters are designed to take you all the way from middle and high school planning through the time you walk into your first college class. Our authors are experienced and recognized experts in their areas and have taken the time to share their thoughts with you because they know what a difference higher education makes in a person's life. You are reading a book designed specifically for you as a South Carolinian.

For more information, please contact Catherine Watt, Guide editor at 864-656-0208 or e-mail.

Download the full (2.5 MB) version of the Family Guide here:

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If you prefer, you may download specific chapters using the Table of Contents Below:

Letter of Welcome:   Robert W. Harrell, Speaker of the House
Foreward:   The Investment of a Lifetime, Dr. Luther F. Carter, President, Francis Marion University
Introduction:   Investment Planning: The SC Portfolio of Higher Education
Chapter 1:   Preparing for Success in College
Chapter 2:   Navigating the College Admissions Process
Chapter 3:   How Can I Afford College? Solving the Financial Aid Puzzle
Chapter 4:   Understanding College Savings and Investment Choices
Chapter 5:   Working through College: Is a Job Part of Your Investment Plan?
Chapter 6:   Maximizing Your Investment Return: Planning for Career Success
Chapter 7:   Investment Costs: How Tuition and Fees are used at Institutions
Chapter 8:   The Public Investment: The SC Funding Process for Higher Education
Appendix A:   About the Authors
Appendix B:   Web sites and other contacts