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College tuition can be costly whether you are seeking an undergraduate and graduate degree, attending an out-of-state public university, or taking classes at a private university.

If you do not have adequate savings to pay for classes, room and board, food, travel and other necessities, then you may be considering how to pay for college.

The costs of attending college continue to rise each year for both public and private colleges and universities. In 2023, average annual tuition and fees came to $9,377 at public in-state colleges, and $38,768 at private universities. Obtaining financial aid is one way students can afford to attend college.

One common type of financial aid is called gift aid and typically comes in the form of federal and state grants and a wide range of scholarships that are given by private donors, foundations, non-profit organizations and even the universities themselves.

These grants and scholarships do not have to be paid back, which is helpful for students who are on a tight budget or are considering obtaining a graduate degree.

Another type of aid is called self help aid and usually comes in a form of work study programs and student loans. Some work study programs are sponsored by the federal government and they provide part-time jobs for students who need help paying their tuition. These jobs can be either on the campus of the college or university or off campus nearby.

Self help aid also includes federal student loans which have to be paid back after a student graduates.

There are advantages and disadvantages of both gift aid and self help aid. Undergraduate and graduate students may only qualify for one type of aid, depending on their financial circumstances, where they are obtaining their college degree or other factors.

What Are The Pros and Cons of Gift Aid?

Grants and scholarships are considered gift aid. One common form of grants are called Pell grants. These are grants provided by the federal government and Pell grants are given to undergraduate students who have demonstrated financial need.

The maximum federal Pell grant award is $7,395 for the 2023-24 academic year with amounts changing annually.

The main drawback of gift aid is that you may not know what amount you will receive and you may need to supplement paying for college by seeking more scholarships and grants or getting a part-time job.

If you received a Pell grant the previous academic year, there is no guarantee that you will receive it again for the next academic year.

There are thousands of scholarships that are available to students who are obtaining various degrees. There are a variety of scholarship databases where students can search to find scholarships.

The amount of money that you can receive from scholarships can range a couple thousand dollars to larger amounts that will cover the majority of your tuition and other costs.

Scholarships may require that you reapply annually and there is no guarantee that you will receive a scholarship again the following academic year.

What Are The Pros and Cons of Self Help Aid?

Self help aid includes both work study programs and federal and private student loans.

Work Study Program

Federal work study programs are available for both undergraduate and graduate students to help them pay for tuition and other educational costs. The program’s jobs are related to the student’s course of study and also include community service work.

Both full-time or part-time students may qualify for part-time employment while they are enrolled at their university or college and it is available to undergraduate and graduate and professional students who demonstrate financial aid.

The work study programs are operated by a college and university financial aid office and you will receive at least the federal minimum wage. These jobs are available both on-campus and off-campus which can be beneficial for students who do not have other means of transportation.

Students who work off campus typically work for a nonprofit organization or a public agency and the goal of the job is geared to be in the public interest. The number of jobs is limited, so students should apply early to ensure that they have a position for the following academic year.

Federal and Private Student Loans

Another type of self-help aid are federal and private student loans. Federal student loans are based upon the financial need of a student and their family. They are either subsidized or unsubsidized direct loans and may offer lower interest rates than private loans. One drawback is that the federal government will limit how much money you can borrow.

Undergraduate students may qualify for subsidized loans that are given based on their financial need. One benefit is that the federal government will pay the interest on these loans while you are attending school or at least taking classes half-time, during your grace period or when you have deferred the loan.

Both undergraduate and graduate students may qualify for unsubsidized loans and they are not based on financial need. These loans accrue interest while students are taking classes, during the loan’s grace period, or when you have deferred the loan.

Private student loans can be used to help make up the gap in what is needed to pay the remainder of tuition or living expenses. While both federal and private student loans may help students pay for their tuition; they must be repaid once a student graduates.

If you do not complete your course study and do not receive a degree, the student loans still have to be repaid.

Federal student loans have protections that private student loans do not offer. Students who have received federal student loans can seek several options after graduation to repay their loans including income-driven repayment programs.

Federal student loans also offer borrowers’ the ability to put loans in forbearance or deferment, allowing them to temporarily pause payments in certain situations.

Some borrowers will choose to refinance student loans into new private student loans. But this option means that you lose the protection of the federal repayment plans. Private student loans have both fixed and variable interest rates.

Fixed interest rates are beneficial for people who want to know the exact amount of their loans each month helping them to budget more easily. The interest rate on variable student loans are sometimes lower than fixed rates but that means your payment amounts can fluctuate from month to month.

Shopping around can help you find the best private student loan that fits your financial needs and the amount that you can repay each month.

Qualifying For Gift Aid or Self Help Aid?

Qualifying for either gift aid or self help aid might depend on your financial circumstances. Students may want to apply early for grants, scholarships, work-study programs and student loans.

The first step in applying for federal aid, such as the Pell Grant, work study, and federal student loans is completing a FAFSA®, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This application must be completed every year.

Some states and colleges may have their own FAFSA deadlines , so double check to avoid missing any. Missing a deadline can mean forgoing some financial aid.

While some gift aid such as scholarships are given to students based on merit, grades or other accomplishments, grants, work study programs and student loans are typically based on your financial needs and the cost of tuition at your university.

Some universities use data from the FAFSA to determine gift aid like scholarships too. Students can also apply for scholarships and grants that aren’t associated with the FAFSA®.

Private Student Loans with SoFi

In some cases gift aid and federal aid aren’t enough to help students pay for their tuition. In that case, some students may consider private student loans.

SoFi offers private student loans with no late fees or origination fees with flexible repayment options. There are also interest rate discounts for eligible SoFi members.

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SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.

When a student fills out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, it’s important that they understand their dependency status. A student’s dependency status will affect the information they need to report on their FAFSA.

Dependent students have to report both their own and their parent’s information during this process. Independent students will only have to report their own information, the exception being if they are married. In which case, they will provide their spouse’s information as well.

Here’s how it works for independent vs. dependent students.

The Difference Between Independent and Dependent Students

There are a few key differences between independent and dependent students.

What Is an Independent Student?

An independent student meets one or more of the following criteria. They are:

•   24 years old or older
•   Married
•   A graduate or professional student
•   A veteran
•   A member of the armed forces
•   An orphan
•   A ward of the court
•   Someone with legal dependents other than a spouse
•   An emancipated minor
•   Someone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

What Is a Dependent Student?

Basically, a dependent student is any student who doesn’t meet the criteria to be considered an independent student. The U.S. government bases their federal student aid programs on the belief that it is primarily the student and their family’s responsibility to pay for the student’s higher education pursuits.

Even though it may not be the case in reality, dependent students are assumed to have the support of their parents which is why the parents’ information must be included in the student’s FAFSA form. Providing this information gives FAFSA a more complete picture of the family’s financial strength.

Just because someone is considered a dependent student does not mean that their parents have to contribute financially to their higher education costs, but the government assumes that parents will contribute in some way if financially possible.

Determining Dependent or Independent Student Status

While that brief overview begins to paint a picture of what it looks like to be a dependent or independent student, the Federal Student Aid office, which is an office of the U.S. Department of Education, asks key questions that help students determine their official status.

Their answers to the questions on the FAFSA form will help determine whether they are considered a dependent or independent student. The questions do change slightly each year, but are published by the Federal Student Aid office.

These questions include things like:

•   As of today, are you married?
•   Are you a veteran of the US armed forces?
•   At any time since you turned age 13, were both your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a dependent or ward of the court?

These questions can help guide students to determine whether or not they qualify as an independent or dependent student. Essentially, if a student answers “yes” to any of the questions in the FAFSA, they are considered an independent student.

Dependent Students

Students that answered “no” to all of the questions above are considered to be dependent students and while applying for federal student aid must provide information about their parents on the FAFSA form.

Students who are considered a dependent student by the FAFSA but are not in contact with their parents and don’t know where they live, can discuss their situation with the financial aid office at the college or career school they are planning on attending.

Their school’s financial aid administrator will usually be able to help them determine next steps. The same process applies if a student has left home due to an abusive situation. They will fill out the FAFSA form and contact their school’s financial aid office for assistance.

Even if a dependent student doesn’t live with their parents, they still need to provide accurate information about their parents. If their parents won’t provide the information they need, the student risks having their application rejected which may make them ineligible to receive any federal student aid.

Students in these circumstances may be able to qualify for an unsubsidized loan at most, but this option depends on what the financial aid office at their specific college decides.

Even if a student’s parents won’t help pay for college, if they answered “no” to all of those questions, they are still considered dependent.

Independent Students

Students that answered “yes” to any of the above questions are considered to be independent students during the federal student aid process. Independent students do not have to provide information about their parents on the FAFSA form.

When Federal Student Aid Falls Short

Colleges use the FAFSA to determine a student’s federal aid eligibility. While the FAFSA is a great place to start, sometimes federal aid can’t fully cover the cost of a college education. This is where private student loans can step in and cover the expenses that gift aid and Federal loans could not.

Related: A Guide to Private Student Loans

SoFi strongly believes students should exhaust all of their Federal grant and loan options before they look at private loans. Once a student has exhausted their options, they can look at SoFi private student loans which are easy to apply for, allow students to add a cosigner to their application in minutes, and never have fees.

No origination fees, no late fees, and no insufficient fund fees. Ever. With flexible repayment plans and exclusive rate discounts, SoFi Private Student Loans can provide a good option for covering the costs of attending college.

The Takeaway

In order to fill out the FAFSA, students will need to determine if they are an independent or dependent student. For example, students aged 24 and older, those attending graduate school, students who are married, or who have dependents are all generally considered independent students.

For a full list of questions to help you determine whether or not you are a dependent student, check out this resource from the Federal Student Aid website.

The distinction between independent and dependent students is important because they are required to submit different information to the FAFSA. Dependent students are required to submit their parent’s information in order to be considered for federal aid opportunities. This is the case even if a dependent student’s parents are not contributing financially to tuition costs. Independent students are not required to submit any of their parent’s financial information.

In situations where federal aid may not cover the cost of college, private student loans could be an alternative option to look into.

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Blue chip stocks are generally issued by large, well-established companies that have a history of steady growth. These companies are typically financially sound, they’re generally considered lower risk, and many blue chip stocks also pay dividends.

In other words, blue chip stocks are the big, stable ocean liners of the equity markets, not the smaller more volatile jet skis. When you’re constructing a portfolio, you may want to consider these large-cap stocks in the slow-but-steady corner of your equity allocation as part of your diversification strategy.

A Closer Look at Blue Chip Stocks

First, let’s answer the obvious questions: Why blue? Why chips? The origin of the term “blue chip stocks” is believed to originate with the game of poker, where traditionally the blue chips have the highest value.

While there is no fixed definition for blue chips, generally speaking, blue chip stocks are chiefly known for being stable and reliable. Blue chip companies can also share some other characteristics.

Common Traits of a Blue Chip Stocks

•   They’re well-known. Blue-chip stocks aren’t limited to a single industry, but can be found in grocery aisles and on entertainment channels. Companies like Disney, Coca-Cola, and IBM are all considered blue chip stocks.

•   They’re industry leaders. Often a stock has earned its blue-chip reputation by innovating over time, and becoming a market leader — often being among the top three companies in a given sector.

•   They’re worth billions. Many blue chip companies have a market cap of $10 billion or more, but many are larger. Market capitalization is a measure of a company’s value, and it’s calculated by multiplying the share price by the number of shares outstanding.

•   They’re well established. Most blue chip stocks are not newcomers. Rather they’ve demonstrated a history of financial stability, which can make them an important part of a defensive investment strategy.

•   They’ve weathered different market conditions. Owing to their longer histories, many blue chip stocks have overcome various market challenges, but that does not make them “safe” investments.

•   They’re on an index. You’ll often find blue chip stocks listed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, or the Bridgeway Blue Chip 35 Index.

•   They pay dividends. Blue chip stocks typically pay out dividends, or a share of the company’s profits, to shareholders.


💡 Quick Tip: Did you know that opening a brokerage account typically doesn’t come with any setup costs? Often, the only requirement to open a brokerage account — aside from providing personal details — is making an initial deposit.

10 Historically Blue Chip Stocks

Here are 10 companies that have been historically considered blue chip. This list does not include all blue chips, but is a selection of some that are well known:

•   3M

•   Coca-Cola

•   UnitedHealth Group

•   IBM (International Business Machines)

•   Johnson & Johnson

•   JP Morgan Chase

•   Microsoft

•   Procter & Gamble

•   UPS (United Parcel Service)

•   Walmart

These companies have been around for decades, and because of their consistent performance history, they’re considered blue chip stocks today. You may want to consider them when you’re thinking about portfolio diversification.

In addition, a few newcomers (or relatively new companies) have joined the blue chip party, such as Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Investing in Blue Chip Stocks

Like any investment strategy, blue chip stocks have their potential benefits and drawbacks. Before investing in blue chip stocks, you may want to weigh the positives and negatives of these types of stocks on your overall investment strategy.

Advantages

Blue chip stocks have their fair share of benefits:

•   They have a track record. Typically, blue chip stocks have been around for a while and are listed in some of the most well-known stock indexes. Some of these indexes can have stringent rules that only the most financially stable companies could meet.

•   They’re big. Many of these companies are global in reach, and have the potential to grow faster, secure bigger loans, and continue to compete in the market. Thus, blue chip stocks may be more stable than smaller companies in their sectors — but with the resources to innovate and maintain their status.

•   They can be lower risk. Blue chip stocks are often considered low risk because of their size and market history in the market. Many of them also pay dividends, which benefits investors.

•   They’re highly liquid. Because these companies trade frequently, but are typically not volatile, investors can generally be confident in these stocks’ value when selling.

•   They’re easy to follow. The companies behind many blue chip stocks tend to be well known, which means announcements and news around them is likely to make the front page of the financial section.

Disadvantages

There’s no such thing as a “sure thing,” especially in investing, and the drawbacks of blue chip stocks prove this point. Here are a few cons to keep in mind when considering blue chips for your portfolio.

•   They may fall harder. The old adage “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” may apply here. Just because a blue chip stock has a solid history does not ensure a profitable future.

•   Limited growth. Though these companies typically have longevity on their side, they are often past their prime growth years. This is why blue chip companies also have a reputation for being low risk.

•   They may be expensive. Blue chip stocks tend to be well-known brands and often a highly desirable part of people’s investment strategies. For that reason, you’re unlikely to get a deal on them.


💡 Quick Tip: How to manage potential risk factors when you invest? Doing your research and employing strategies like dollar-cost averaging and diversification may help mitigate financial risk when trading stocks.

Investing in Individual Blue Chip Stocks

Like a well-balanced meal, investing in blue chip stocks can be one part of a healthy investment strategy. Those looking to make blue chip stocks a part of their balanced investment diet may first consider investing in individual stocks.

If the price per share is too steep for an investor’s budget, they might want to consider fractional share investing, which allows the purchase of a fraction of a stock instead of the whole share, starting at just $5. Restrictions do apply for fractional shares.

Choosing to invest in an individual stock might be a good way to get a feel for the market, or it might be a way to take a more active investment strategy. Either way, a brokerage can handle an investor’s single blue chip stock purchase.

Blue Chip Funds: An Alternative to Individual Stocks

If no individual stock strikes your fancy, but you still want to get into the blue chip game, you might consider investing in index funds or ETFs that focus on blue chip stocks.

Index funds and ETFs typically hold a diversified basket of stocks, often in line with a stock market index that tracks a segment of the market. Choosing an index fund or ETF that tracks large-cap stocks, the S&P 500, or the Dow Jones Industrial average can be one way to invest in a wide range of blue chip companies and add diversification. Investing in a blue chip fund or an ETF is investing in a portfolio of companies that a broker has selected.

The Takeaway

A company’s stock earns a blue chip designation when they have a strong performance history, consistent returns, excellent financials, and they’re considered industry leaders.

For investors who are ready to start investing, blue chip stocks can be a solid choice — but typically not one that’s likely to deliver a lot of growth or big returns. That said, blue chips are often viewed as being conservative. Being conservative can be an important part of an investment strategy, but it’s like a balanced diet. It may not be healthy to eat the same thing day after day, just as it’s not wise to invest only in bigger, more conservative options — but include other investments as well.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.

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