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Some college students grapple with a challenge that has little to do with grades or the overall college experience: helicopter parents.

These well-meaning moms and dads insert themselves into the lives of their emerging adult children to a degree that may hinder the development of coping skills.

College orientation programs for nervous parents have become more common. Even so, some parents have trouble letting go. With the price of college having doubled in 20 years, some parents want to make sure they’re getting their money’s worth.

Hobbled by Helicopter Parenting

The risks of helicopter parenting are real, researchers say.

In a review article published in June 2022 in the Journal of Emerging Adulthood, researchers analyzed more than 70 studies done over the last 20 years on helicopter parenting. Across the board, they found strong negative associations between overparenting and a college student’s development in the psychological, behavioral, social, academic, and career areas.

Researchers define helicopter parents as moms or dads who “excessively monitor their children and often remove obstacles from their paths, instead of helping them develop the skills to handle the inevitable difficulties of life.” Helicopter college parents may reach out directly to college professors and administrators about grades or nag their children about academic deadlines and test results.

Why is this so harmful? When kids go off to college, they are entering a period of life psychologists call “emerging adulthood.” The goal during this phase is to become independent and self-sufficient. If a student’s parents are always doing things for them, it can keep them from learning essential skills they need to become a successful adult.

Overparenting can also make students feel inadequate and helpless, taking a major toll on their self-esteem. Studies have even found a link between helicopter parenting and higher alcohol and other substance use, depression and anxiety, as well as lower educational achievement.


💡 Quick Tip: You can fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.

How to Deal With Helicopter Parents

For students stranded between demanding academic obligations and surveillance-minded parents, the path forward may involve a strong dose of self-discipline, a willingness to learn and make mistakes, and an open call for independence. Here are some ideas.

Adjust How You Engage

If parental hovering seems unavoidable, students may want to diplomatically tighten up engagements with Mom and/or Dad.

Unless the student is in a serious health or financial crisis, there’s no need for a daily phone call, Zoom meeting, or even text with parents.

Students should talk to parents before leaving for campus and ideally agree on a scheduled conversation, perhaps weekly or biweekly.

Students who do not feel pressured may decide that frequent calls, emails, or texts are OK — as long as they initiate the engagement.

Ask for a Coach, Not a Problem Solver

When a young person leaves for college, the temptation for many parents is to step in and solve every problem for them, thus taking a learning experience out of the equation.

Yes, living away from home for the first time can be intimidating and yes, a parent’s inclination is to take over the situation and straighten things out. That, however, may deprive the child of a much-needed learning experience.

Mistakes are inevitable. “It doesn’t matter how many times you fail. It doesn’t matter how many times you almost get it right. No one is going to know or care about your failures, and neither should you. All you have to do is learn from them and those around you …,” entrepreneur Mark Cuban has written.

Students should strive to make their own academic and lifestyle decisions (but not big health care or financial decisions, at least not yet), with parents supporting and coaching in the background.

Take the Long View

Helicopter parents invariably view their child’s problems and challenges on campus with a short-term outlook. Instead, students should emphasize the learning experiences they’re having and that the experiences are positive in the long haul.

While parents may fret over their child not getting into a class, missing out on a grant, loan, or scholarship, or just getting a problem roommate — situations that can call for a remedy — they’re experiences best handled by the student, who can make that exact case to parents.

It might be helpful to say: “Mom/Dad, I’m learning from my own problematic scenarios, I’m growing a thicker skin, and I’m learning how to solve problems and make decisions like an adult. When I do need your involvement, I hope you’ll trust me to let you know as soon as possible.”

The takeaway for both parties: A big part of attending college is becoming your own self-advocate in life, and some patience and pullback on the part of parents (and encouraged by the student) can help that happen.

Ask for Your Own Bank Account

To further declare independence from helicopter parents, college students may want to ask them to take their name off a shared bank account. Doing so will allow students to learn how to manage money on their own, with Mom and Dad in the background if needed.

Let parents know that any excessive spending or critical financial needs can, when necessary, involve them. But being responsible for finances is a critical lesson best learned by the student.

For college students, that means making the case that financial literacy is a gift and that college is a great place to earn it.


💡 Quick Tip: Even if you don’t think you qualify for financial aid, you should fill out the FAFSA form. Many schools require it for merit-based scholarships, too. You can submit it as early as Oct. 1.

Create Boundaries on Student Portals

Digital student portals are valuable tools for both students and parents, but college students may want to establish boundaries on parental portal engagements.

Yes, parents will want to log on to the parental portion of their student’s online college portal (mainly to check finances, review financial aid, and pay tuition bills).

Past that, there’s no need for parents to regularly plug in to their student’s primary online portal and sound off about everyday collegiate experiences.

Particularly, college students may not want their parents looking at their calendars, classroom grades, student-teacher interactions, and portal emails designed for the student’s eyes only.

College students can remedy that situation by having their parents agree on portal access conditions, like checking grades once a month or even once a semester.

Making the case that portal engagements, with boundaries, are the domain of the student can provide a sense of trust and privacy, especially in the first year at school.

Take a Bigger Role in College Finances

College students may be able to help their own cause by partnering with parents on college financing issues and learning to be good stewards of their college money.

That means visiting the financial portion of the college portal and seeing what has been paid, what is owed, and what is available in financial aid.

Helping out with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year will also give the student a realistic look at the cost of college, which may provide an incentive to make that cost worthwhile.

When you know exactly where you stand financially on campus, you can begin making decisions on key issues like course loads, living on or off campus, accepting a work-study program, and taking on a part-time job.

Additionally, taking a shared-responsibility role can help with long-term college decisions, like taking an internship overseas or moving on to graduate school.

The Takeaway

College students can take steps to deal with helicopter parents, who may hinder the development of skills to handle the inevitable difficulties of life.

The suggestions are rooted in convincing parents to take a supportive but not supervisory role in the student’s everyday college experience.

Financial literacy means knowing the options for paying the myriad costs of college, from tuition to housing and food: federal grants, work-study, student loans, merit scholarships, and private student loans.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

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SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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When applying for college, there are a lot of details to consider. Once the SAT scores are in, the essay is written, and the application is complete, there’s one more step: paying the college application fee.

If you are applying to more than one school, those fees can really add up.

Luckily there is a way to get out of paying to apply to a school: a college application fee waiver.

Here’s more intel for students and their parents about application fees and waivers.

The 411 on Application Fees

Many colleges and grad schools require applicants to pay a fee.

U.S. News & World Report looked at 889 ranked colleges and found that the average application fee was $45. It noted that 64 schools charged prices exceeding $75. Arkansas Baptist College had the highest application fee, at $100.

If a student is applying to more than one school, these costs can not only add up but also be prohibitive for some.

While there is no set standard for how many schools a student should apply to, some experts say it’s a good idea to apply to between six and eight colleges — two to three to act as safety schools, two as target schools, and two “reach” schools.

At $45 per college, on average, that could add up to $270 to $360. There are, however, ways to get around the fees.


💡 Quick Tip: SoFi offers low fixed- or variable-interest rates. So you can get a private student loan that fits your budget.

Ask the College for a Waiver

Many colleges and universities allow students to directly ask for an application fee waiver.

Typically, the application will have a field that students or parents can fill out asking for the application fee to be waived.

If there is no space on the application, students or parents could simply call the school’s registrar office and ask what options may be available to them.

Recommended: Important College Application Deadlines

Getting Help From Nonprofits

National Association for College Admission Counseling

The National Association for College Admission Counseling offers a request for an application fee waiver that can be filled out online and submitted with each application.

To fill out the form, the student simply writes the name of the college on the top line, and then fills out the “Student” section and checks the appropriate boxes in the “Economic Need” section. If none apply, an applicant can click “Other Request” and explain the financial need for the fee waiver.

Then, a school counselor, postsecondary support person, or principal at the student’s school, or a person from a community-based organization needs to complete the Authorized Official section to verify economic eligibility.

Students send the completed form directly to the university’s admissions office. College applicants may want to check with the office if they do not hear back about an approval status within a month.

Recommended: Grants For College — Find Free Money for Students

Common Application

The Common Application is a generic application used by 1,000 schools.

Using the application makes it easy for students to apply for more schools at once. And, within the application, students can request a fee waiver in the profile section. According to the Common Application, students can qualify for a fee waiver for a variety of reasons.

Those include if they are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the federal free or reduced-price lunch program, annual family income falls within the Income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, and if they are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families.

Students can also qualify if their family receives public assistance or if they live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home, or are homeless. Students who are wards of the state or can provide a supporting statement on economic need from a school official can also apply for a waiver.

The Common Application fee waiver may also be available for international applicants. It’s important to note that it is still up to each school if it accepts a fee waiver request.

Recommended: Paying for College Without Parents Help

College Board

Students aiming for college will likely have to take a standardized test, presumably either the ACT or the SAT, as part of their application. The SAT costs $60 for each standard SAT a student takes, and each ACT is $68 (There is an additional cost if a student wants to take the essay portion of the tests.)

Eligible students can get fee waivers for up to two of each standardized test. Typically, they qualify if they live in a foster home or public housing or receive free or reduced-price lunches. Family income can also be a qualifier. Students will have to speak to a school administrator to receive the waiver, as each testing company allocates a specific number of waivers to each school.

So, how can this help with the college application fee? By qualifying for the SAT or ACT waiver, a student also gets to waive the application costs for four colleges. Those who are eligible for an SAT waiver will receive application waivers via the College Board, making it easy to streamline the process.

Attend a College Fair or Visit the School

Some colleges and universities may be willing to hand out application fee waivers to students who visit the school.

For example, the University of Pittsburgh offers an application fee waiver to those who travel to and tour the school during a specific time period.There is no need to show financial need for the waiver.

Most schools do not actively advertise these specials, so students are encouraged to dig deeply into their choice school’s website or call the school’s office of admissions to find out if this may be an option.

How to Find Colleges With No Application Fees

There are a number of colleges out there that don’t require an application fee at all.

Tulane University in New Orleans, Loyola University Chicago, and Baylor University in Waco, Texas are just a few of the many schools that don’t require an application fee.

In some cases, a school will waive their application fees during certain time frames, such as the middle of October. You can do an online search for “colleges with no application fees” to find lists, but will want to follow up with any schools you’re interested in to make sure the information is up to date.


💡 Quick Tip: Even if you don’t think you qualify for financial aid, you should fill out the FAFSA form. Many schools require it for merit-based scholarships, too. You can submit it as early as Oct. 1.

Paying for College

Getting past the application is just the beginning. From there, students will have to navigate the cost of housing, tuition, books, and more. For many, that means taking out loans.

Students can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA to see if they are eligible for student aid from the federal government. Colleges may then use the information provided to determine specific aid needs.

You can discuss federal aid and loan options directly with the schools of choice. If you still have gaps in funding, you may be able to cover them with a private student loan. These are available through banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Keep in mind, though, that private loans don’t offer the same protections, such as government forgiveness or forbearance programs that come with federal student loans.

To qualify for a private student loan, you need to fill out a loan application alone or with a cosigner. The amount of money you can borrow and the interest rate usually depend on credit scores and income.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

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SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which will soon be replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI), is a measure of how much a student and their family can be expected to contribute to the cost of college for an upcoming academic year. Your EFC/SAI is an important number because it impacts how much need-based financial aid you qualify for.

EFC meaning is sometimes mistaken as the dollar amount that a student and their family will pay for college. However, the amount families end up paying could be significantly more or less than the EFC, depending on the cost of attendance and scholarships.

As a result of this confusion, the EFC will be replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI) starting in the 2024-2025 academic year. While the name change is essentially just a rebranding, there will be some changes in how a family’s expected contribution will be calculated. The change is part of the new, simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that will be available to students in December 2023.

Here’s what you need to know about EFC/SAI and how it affects your potential aid.

Expect Family Contribution vs Student Aid Index

The Expected Family Contribution and Student Aid Index are essentially the same thing — an estimate of how much money a family can contribute out of pocket toward a student’s college education based on information provided on the FAFSA.

However, it’s only an estimate. As college tuition has gone up over the years, many students will pay significantly more than the EFC/SAI amount that the FAFSA form generates. The change from Expected Family Contribution to Student Aid Index reflects that the amount is simply a guideline, not a determination of what an applicant will pay. The switch to SAI also comes with some differences in how a family’s EFC is calculated (more on that below).

Like EFC, SAI is a vital metric used to determine how much — if any — federal financial aid students will receive to help them pay for college. However, it’s not the only factor. Eligibility for federal aid also takes into account a student’s year in school, enrollment status, and the cost of attendance at the school the student will be attending.


💡 Quick Tip: Some lenders help you pay down your student loans sooner with reward points you earn along the way.

How Colleges Used the Information

Once you complete the FAFSA, college financial aid staff will use all the information provided to determine your financial need.

Here’s the process:

1. The college financial aid staffers decide your cost of attendance (which includes tuition, fees, room and board, and books) at that school.

2. They then consider your EFC/SAI.

3. Next, they subtract your EFC/SAI from your cost of attendance to determine how much need-based aid you can get.

For example, let’s say a school’s total cost of attendance is $30,000 and your EFC/SAI is $8,000. You could qualify for up to $22,000 of need-based aid through programs like federal Pell Grants, direct subsidized loans, and the work-study program.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you will get that much aid, however. Colleges aren’t required to meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need (the total cost of attendance minus your EFC/SAI). The amount you receive will depend on funding availability at your school, and how much has already been given out to other students.

Generally, the lower the SAI/EFC value, the higher the financial need, and the greater the eligibility for federal financial aid programs, such as Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized Loans, federal work-study programs.

Your offer of financial aid may change from year to year.

How Your EFC/SAI Is Calculated

EFC/SAI methodology utilizes financial information from the FAFSA (such as taxed and untaxed income, investments, assets, benefits, and household size) to quantify an applicant’s financial need. With the change to a simplified FAFSA, however, students and families will not only see a different measure of their ability to pay (SAI vs EFC), but will also experience a change in the methodology used to determine aid.

One key change is that, unlike the EFC, the SAI will not factor in the number of family members currently enrolled in college (which benefited families with multiple children in college). Three other changes that will happen with the switch from EFC to SAI:

•  Unlike the EFC, SAI can be a negative number (as low as -$1,500). This enables financial aid officers to better differentiate levels of need.

•  SAI will increase the Income Protection Allowance (IPA), which shelters a certain amount of parent income from being included in the calculation of total income.

•  The SAI calculation will eliminate the EFC allowance for state and local taxes.

After you complete the FAFSA, your EFC/SAI will be listed in the top right corner of your Student Aid Report, which outlines financial aid eligibility.

Calculating EFC/SAI With the CSS Profile

Around 200 colleges require students to provide supplemental financial information through the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile. The 2023-2024 list of participating institutions is available online .

Colleges may customize their questions on the CSS Profile to capture more information to evaluate a student’s financial need. For instance, the CSS Profile may ask about home value and financial information from both households if a student’s parents are separated. The CSS Profile may also consider the regional cost of living and personal circumstances in its calculation of financial need.

These colleges use the CSS Profile to calculate a different EFC/SAI for awarding their own financial aid funds. Typically, they will use their own institutional EFC/SAI methodology when determining a financial aid award.

While filling out the CSS Profile is extra work, it can give you access to private student aid from many universities and scholarship programs. However, the CSS is not used to determine federal financial aid.

Federal Need-Based Aid Available for Qualifying Students

Depending on your EFC/SAI and other eligibility criteria, a financial aid package could include the following need-based federal student aid programs.

•  Federal Pell Grant: Student eligibility for a Pell Grant is determined by financial need and the funding amount can fluctuate each year. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the maximum award is $7,395. The amount an individual student may receive depends on a number of factors.

•  Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): Participating schools receive a set amount of federal funding that is distributed to students based on financial need each year. Eligible students can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year based on funding availability and their overall financial aid package.

•  Direct Subsidized Loans: Undergraduate students with financial need may qualify for subsidized loans — a type of federal student loan that does not accrue interest payments while you are in school at least half-time. Students also receive a six-month grace period on interest payments after graduation and may qualify for a deferment based on income, health, continuing education, military service, and other factors.

•  Federal Work-Study: This program provides part-time employment for undergraduate and graduate students with financial needs at participating schools. The total work-study award depends on the level of need, the timing of application, and a school’s available funding.

💡 Quick Tip: Federal student loans carry an origination or processing fee (1.057% for Direct Subsididized and Unsubsidized loans first disbursed from Oct. 1, 2020, through Oct. 1, 2024). The fee is subtracted from your loan amount, which is why the amount disbursed is less than the amount you borrowed. That said, some private student loan lenders don’t charge an origination fee.

Fill Out the FAFSA Early?

Even if you qualify for a specific amount of need-based aid, you may not receive all of it. That’s because the amount a student receives depends on the available funding at their school.

Colleges are not required to meet 100% of a student’s financial need, and some programs like the Pell Grant have limited funds that are divided up among schools each year.

It can be a smart idea to fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible to ensure they are among the first in line to receive available aid.

Typically, the FAFSA is available as of October 1 for the following academic year. However, the simplified FAFSA will not be available to students until December 2023 for the 2024-25 academic year. You have until June 30, 2024 to fill it out, but earlier may be better than later. Stay tuned for more updates on the new FAFSA deadline.

Bridging the Financial Gaps

Once you get your EFC/SAI and financial aid package (which may include scholarships, grants, work-study, and federal loans), you may find there are still some gaps in funding. If you’ve already exhausted federal loan options, you might consider looking into the possibility of getting a private student loan.

Unlike federal student loans, private loans require a credit check. Students who have strong financials (or who have cosigners who do) generally qualify for the best rates and terms. Just keep in mind that private loans don’t come with government protection programs, like forgiveness or forbearance, offered by federal student loans.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

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SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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If there was one silver lining in the confusing landscape of higher education during the COVID-19 crisis, it was colleges offering students the choice to opt out of standardized testing, like the SAT and ACT.

This change had already been brewing prior to the pandemic, with some selective universities making standardized testing scores optional. One of the most notable was the University of Chicago, which dropped its SAT requirement in 2018.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to many schools dropping requirements for standardized testing, due, in part, to the lack of testing facilities for students. But even as the world has returned to normal, some colleges have continued to make standardized testing optional for incoming applicants.

Standardized testing has long been controversial, in part because it may shift favor toward affluent applicants who can afford test preparation courses, or who go to well-funded public schools or private schools that can teach test-taking skills. In this way, critics of standardized testing say that standardized testing doesn’t measure aptitude; it merely measures a student’s ability to take a test.

And while seeing that a school is test optional may make some students breathe a sigh of relief, it can lead to confusion for many applicants, especially those who are strong test-takers. Understanding how colleges may use these scores can help you make the decision as to whether to include them in your application package.

Test Optional Versus Test Blind

To assess how a university will potentially use test scores, it’s helpful to see whether the school is test optional or test blind.

Test Optional

The school doesn’t require standardized test scores, but if they’re submitted, they will be evaluated alongside the application package.

Test Blind

The school does not require standardized testing. If a student submits standardized test scores, they will not be looked at or evaluated by the institution.

The difference in these definitions can be helpful to determine whether or not to submit test scores. If the school you apply to is test blind, then sending your scores will not matter. But if the school is test optional, then some applicants may consider sending their test scores if they performed well.


💡 Quick Tip: Parents and sponsors with strong credit and income may find much lower rates on no-fee private parent student loans than federal parent PLUS loans. Federal PLUS loans also come with an origination fee.

Standardized Testing Can Give Students Options

Students who aren’t sure of where they want to apply, or who are interested in a wide range of potential options, may consider opting in to standardized testing. Also consider that some private scholarships may use standardized testing as one method of evaluation.

As you consider your high school and college career, it can be helpful to ask the following questions:

• What does my school counselor think about opting out of testing?

• How do I perform on testing? Does testing cause me significant anxiety, or is it something that I can excel in with relatively minimal stress?

• Do I plan to apply for college scholarships?

• Do I know which schools I want to apply to? You may not have the answer yet depending on which stage of the college search you’re in, but looking at a few dream or reach school admission requirements can be helpful to assess whether or not you’ll likely need standardized testing.

Recommended: How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?

Know the Test Calendar

For some students, standardized testing for higher education begins with the PSAT/NMSQT. Also known as the PSAT 10. This test assesses “readiness for college” and may be used for scholarship eligibility. This test is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship. While it’s commonly taken in tenth or eleventh grade, some middle-schoolers may also take the PSAT 8/9 both for practice and for high school eligibility.

The PSAT does not count toward college admission and colleges will not see a student’s results. That’s why the PSAT can be a helpful first step in assessing how you perform on a standardized test, pinpoint any areas that may need work, and create a plan for the next steps.

Both the ACT and SAT are offered about seven times a year in the United States. Some students take these standardized tests in the spring of their junior year and then retake them in the fall of their senior year. But the right cadence is dependent on a student’s unique profile. For some students, taking the standardized tests just once is enough. Others like to use the first test as a benchmark, then spend the summer studying or taking a prep course before taking the test a second time.

Keep in mind too, that some colleges that consider standardized test scores will allow students to submit only their highest scores. Other schools will look at all of a student’s scores. Knowing how your potential schools will consider standardized test scores can also help you assess how many times you want to take the test.

Recommended: How to Help Your Child with SAT Practice

What Are Alternatives to Standardized Testing?

Some students worry that their applications may be viewed less competitively if they opt out of standardized testing. But it’s important to remember that for many admissions offices, evaluating applications is an art — not a science. Reading through admission requirements can give you a sense of what the university expects from applicants. Some public institutions may have specific numbers that students need to meet to be guaranteed admission. But for many schools, admission is dependent on multiple factors including:

• Essays

• Range and breadth of high school courses taken

• Teacher recommendations

• Extracurricular activities

• College interview

• Other factors, which may include state residency, alumni parents, extracurricular activities, or majors planned to pursue in college

• Standardized tests

In short, standardized tests are generally one small part of an admissions package. Talking with a college counselor can help students maximize all other parts of their application for competitive consideration.

Recommended: Do Your SAT Scores Really Matter for College?

Don’t Overlook How You’ll Pay for College

In the leadup to developing a competitive application, it can be easy to overlook the question of how to pay for college. It’s never too early to begin researching methods of payment. This may include:

• Support from parents and family members

• A student’s own savings

• Private scholarships

• Federal financial aid including; work-study, scholarships, grants for college, and federal student loans

• Private student loans

While private student loans can help students fill the gap in how they plan to pay for college, they’re generally used as a last resort because they lack borrower protections offered by federal student loans. But, when students don’t receive enough federal aid to pay for college, private student loans can be one option worth considering.

Students may also look at the tuition cost as they are building the list of colleges they plan on applying to. In general, in-state public universities may be less expensive than private universities, but some private universities have generous financial aid for people who meet certain requirements. Having an understanding of the potential financial commitment alongside the application and admissions process can help students build a clear perspective on how much college will cost depending on where they get accepted.


💡 Quick Tip: Even if you don’t think you qualify for financial aid, you should fill out the FAFSA form. Many schools require it for merit-based scholarships, too. You can submit it as early as Oct. 1.

The Takeaway

The college admissions process can be intense, and standardized tests are only one part of the puzzle. Fortunately, you can minimize stress by taking your time, doing research, and asking questions early. Carefully considering where you want to go to school, how you’ll pay for it, and what will make the experience successful for you can help you choose the school that is the right fit for you.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

Photo credit: iStock/FreshSplash

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SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Ambitious high school students do everything they can to stand out amongst the very crowded crowd of college applicants. Standardized testing is just one of many challenging hoops students have to jump through on their way to higher education. Which is why some students and their parents may be wondering exactly where their dream colleges stand on the age-old issue of ACT vs SAT.

While in many ways the ACT and SAT are similar exams, they have some differences that you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing which test to take. Keep reading to learn more about how these tests compare, which one you should take, and how colleges feel about these two exams.

Purpose, Structure, and Cost

The SAT and ACT are two exams that serve the same purpose. Colleges utilize both exams to determine admission and award merit-based scholarships. Both tests are similar in length and structure, with the SAT taking three hours and the ACT taking 2 hours, 55 minutes (without essay), and 3 hours, 40 minutes (with essay) to complete.

For the 2023-2024 school year, it costs $60 to register for the SAT. There are additional charges if you change test centers ($25) or you register late ($30). Your first four score reports are free if you order them within nine days after the test date. After that, any additional reports you want to send to multiple colleges cost $14 each.

The cost to register for the ACT for the 2023-2024 school year is $68.00 (with no writing) and $93.00 (with writing). There are additional charges if you change test centers ($42) or you register late ($36). Your registration fee covers reports for you, your high school, and up to four colleges (if you provide the codes when you register). Additional score reports are $18.00. To add or remove the writing test, the fee is $25.00.


💡 Quick Tip: You can fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.

The Subject Matter

These two exams cover similar subject matter and include an optional essay portion, although there are some key differences worth noting when it comes to preparing to take these exams. The main difference between the ACT and SAT subject matter is that the ACT has a “science reasoning” section of and an optional essay, whereas the SAT doesn’t.

However, both exams cover topics relating to math reading, and writing type subjects. More specifically, the SAT covers “Reading” and “Writing and Language,” and the ACT covers “English” and “Reading.”

When it comes to the mathematics portion of the exam, the SAT focuses on arithmetic, algebra I and II, geometry, trigonometry, and data analysis. The ACT tests students on their arithmetic, algebra I and II, geometry, trigonometry, and probability and statistics knowledge. Each exam has differing calculator policies. For the ACT, students can use their calculator for all math questions. Whereas with the SAT, only select math questions allow calculator usage.

How Each Exam is Scored

Both the SAT and ACT have unique scoring systems. Here’s a bit of information on each.

How the SAT is Scored

The SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600. Breaking down the scoring process a bit further, the SAT has not just a “total score,” but “section scores.” Each of the main sections, reading/writing and math, may be scored up to 800 points. These scores are then combined for the total.

Last but not least, students will receive subscores, evaluating their performance of certain or subject areas. These scores are included as a part of the total score, but this breakdown can be insightful for students looking to retake the test and improve their skill set.

Recommended: How to Help Your Child with SAT Practice

How the ACT is Scored

The ACT is scored on a scale of one to 36. The ACT scoring system begins by taking into account how many questions a student answers correctly. The “raw scores” which represent the number of correct answers on each test are then converted to “scale scores.” Each subject section—English, Math, Reading, and Science—receives a scale score.

The “composite score,” which ranges from one to 36, is an average of each subject test, rounded to the nearest whole number. The scoring process is completed after identifying the percentage of correctly answered questions.

Recommended: Ultimate College Application Checklist

Do Colleges Prefer the ACT or SAT?

Both the ACT and SAT are widely accepted by U.S. colleges and schools generally don’t have a preference for one over the othere. Many people believe that the SAT is more popular, especially with elite colleges, but that is a higher education urban legend.

There may, however, be some regional preferences between ACT vs SAT. College Raptor analyzed the numbers of students who applied to colleges with ACT or SAT scores (numbers that colleges and universities report to the government) and found that, while many states were split down the middle, a few lean more in one direction towards ACT or SAT. For example, Wisconsin leans heavily towards an ACT preference — there, 95.27% of applicants submitted ACT scores.

Knowing Which Test to Take

While some students opt to take both the SAT or ACT, some choose just one in order to focus on preparing for the test they believe they are more likely to score higher on. Neither test is generally easier than the other, but some students may find their different structures suit their needs better.

The ACT is considered by some to be more appealing to students with strong English skills as the exam focuses more on verbal skills, whereas the SAT may be a better fit for those who excel in math.

Taking a full-length practice test of each exam can give you a better idea of which test you’ll score higher on. Once you’ve determined which is a better fit, you can spend their time and resources preparing for just one test instead of two. If you feel comfortable preparing for and taking both exams, doing so can be beneficial as you will have two scores to choose between to send to colleges.


💡 Quick Tip: Federal student loans carry an origination or processing fee (1.057% for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans first disbursed from Oct. 1, 2020, through Oct. 1, 2024). The fee is subtracted from your loan amount, which is why the amount disbursed is less than the amount you borrowed. That said, some private student loan lenders don’t charge an origination fee.

Paying for College

The options don’t stop after you complete the test (or tests) of your choice. Once you use your solid scores to get into the college of your dreams, you and your family may be faced with some other big decisions, especially when it comes to paying for college.

Luckily, there are options — including grants, scholarships, subsidized loans, and even unsubsidized federal student loans — that can help offset the out-of-pocket costs. If you’ve exhausted those avenues and still have a funding gap, you may want to explore private student loans and or parent loans.

Private student loans are available through banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Unlike federal loans, applying for a private loan requires a credit check. Students who have solid financials (or a cosigner who does) typically qualify for the best rates and terms. Just keep in mind that private loans don’t come with the same protections, like government-sponsored forgiveness programs, that you get with federal loans.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

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SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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