Is it worth it?

There's no arguing a college education is valuable. True, many Americans earn sizable incomes without a formal education, but a degree leads to higher lifetime earnings and better career opportunities. And that's even more true for graduate and advanced degrees.

And while the totals sound astronomical, when you get right down to it, almost everyone can afford to go to college one way or another. First, few students actually pay those sky-high published prices. What's more, efforts by federal and state governments in recent years have made college more affordable in the form of tax credits, savings plans, financial aid, loans, grants and work-study programs. The key is in planning. Start as early as possible. Educate yourself about the costs and programs you or your children may qualify for. Be realistic in your goals and choice of schools. Between savings, scholarships, grants and loans, any student should be able to make the dream of a college education come true.

College financing timeline -- If you haven't started already, the beginning of the senior year of high school is a critical place to get serious about finding money for college.

College costs just keep going up -- A weak economy -- and more belt tightening by state governments -- means higher tuition bills for college students and their parents.

Lesson One: College is really expensive! -- Students are graduating with some heavy debt loads.

Don't shield students from college funding issues -- Many parents don't want to burden their children with college finance problems, but research shows that's a flawed rationale.

Reduce your contribution, increase aid-- Whether you've been saving for years or haven't set aside a dime, a few immediate steps can take the sting out of college costs.

Top 10 priciest colleges ... and the cheapest -- Some of them may surprise you.

-- Posted: Aug. 11, 2005