Gas prices are always a hot topic — after all, where and when you choose to fill up can have a big impact on your wallet.

Colleges big and small are cutting costs in a variety of ways, from firing faculty to closing buildings.

Fresh out of college? Then you might also be fresh out of health insurance. Most group policies have age limitations for dependent college graduates, and major time gaps in coverage can lead to insurance snags down the road.

With so many slumps and crises going on ― credit, housing, and beyond ― concepts like “counseling” and “literacy” have become buzzwords. Is this a fad, or could consumer under-education really have been a factor in creating the economy’s current state?

While many college students earn summer cash serving food, working in a different kind of food industry, the organic farm, has become a growing trend.

Last year, the number of people between ages 16 and 24 who entered the workforce during the summer increased by nearly 2 million. Why?

Graduation time is near, and while many college students are anxious to see what their future entails, they have one more obligation that can be as dreary as a Monday morning lecture: the ceremony.

Throughout the year you have a chance to see how you’re doing academically and improve your grades from there. But do you ever measure your financial knowledge and progress?

After college, sometimes the unthinkable happens: you have to move back home. While it might be even worse culture shock than your semester in Bangalore, remember your parents will probably have to make a few lifestyle changes with you around, too.

In tough financial times we may find ourselves going out less, cutting coupons more and finding ways to save our pennies each day. Many colleges have to reevaluate their budgets and make adjustments as well.

Waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat about whether you should lease or buy a car? Want to compare monthly payments on a mortgage, but don’t want to bother your broker? Embarrassed to talk about credit card debt with your friends and want to know how long it will take you to pay off those bills?

You may find you are more like Britney Spears than you might be willing to admit. Your life may not be as outrageous, but similar spending habits may be just as crazy.

If you walk down the hallways of “Any Campus USA” during the start of a semester, you’re bound to hear at least one person complaining about how much their textbooks cost for the semester. And with good reason, the cost for textbooks adds up quite quickly.

“Helicopter parents” are back in the news again. This time it’s about how involved they are legally allowed to be with their children in college.

A bad economy typically brings more people back to school to further their education. The people behind the GRE announced last month, however, that the number of people taking the GRE is actually down from last year.

Having a college degree has long-proven to be way to increase earning potential. It is typically believed to bring increased opportunity and greater job security as well.

Seems like stadiums named after a person are going the way of the buffalo – at least for professional sports stadiums. Many colleges have avoided selling corporate naming rights up until this point.

For many students, summer is a time to refresh the mind and replenish the wallet after a tough 9 months of class. Others may need to take a class or two to play catch-up on credits. But what if it were to become a requirement to take classes in the summer?

The times are tough these days, and who knows when they’ll be turning around. We hear daily another story about how our deflated economy is leading to layoffs and all sorts of financial devastations.

Now that the semester is over, you deserve a well-earned breather. Going home for the break may mean freedom from books, home-cooked meals, and someone to fold your clothes. It also means transitioning back to living with your parents!

Ever heard someone called a helicopter parent? If you are under the age of 27, odds are good that someone is referring to your parents.

Cue the music. The stage has been set. Finals are here! And stress levels are probably at their peak. Having a game plan is the best way to get through it.

Decided to stay on campus, catch up on your reading, and avoid the family chaos?! Well that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the turkey, gravy, and pumpkin pie.

10. You’ll know that your turkey is a Butterball rather than a Grade E yet semi-edible fur ball.

9. Your mother will not be serving your mashed potatoes and stuffing with an ice cream scooper.

8. Pumpkin pie is a great alternative to green jello.

Ever tried logging into a website only to realize that you forgot your password? Of course you have.

But next time you click “forgot your password?” to retrieve it, think about how others might be using that same link to steal your identity.

No longer will you brag to your fellow classmates about cramming all night for the big exam; instead, gloat about the ‘A’ you got because you were able to nap before the test.

Take a little time out of your day to recognize those who have served in your community. Send a card, make a call or, heck, go pay a visit to your local VFW.

With the election in just a few days and our country in a financial pickle, we have been hearing a variety of solutions to getting us back on track for the long haul. What programs should the federal government cut? And what programs are worth the investment?

Still driving that rusted-out hand-me-down from your parents, and thinking it may be time to have a grown-up car to drive… you know one that has all four hubcaps?!

Fourth down and two yards to go. Should you pass or should you punt?

Not so fast, Mister! Before you decide to download Lil Wayne’s greatest hits to your MP3 or consider watching the entire 4th season of The Office on your I-pod, you may want to look over your shoulder to see that your school’s dean isn’t monitoring your every e-move.

Along with many other new rules put into play with the government’s reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, they are now buckling down on schools to ensure students are only downloading legally.

With identity theft on the rise and an increase in online shopping, it is important to be aware of some common trip-ups that might make you an easy target.

Have you been tricked while you clicked?

Feel the pinch of today’s economy? Not that it has ever been easy to turn a college dorm room into your ideal living space, but today more than ever students are forced to decide where to cut costs on the amenities and even some necessities.

Time to bust out your college sweatshirt and baseball cap – because our favorite day is here again. Just a quick reminder that Friday, August 29th is College Colors Day 2008! It is time to represent!

Want to see what you’re worth? Find your own Forbes-worthy rating with this net worth calculator. It’s like a “you are here” map for your finances.

Anyone can fall victim of identity theft. But you can take the right steps to deter, detect and defend against this rampant problem.

The store displays are going up, nocturnal shopping on Black Friday kicked off the season. If the thought of holiday shopping on a tight budget is making your egg-nogged stomach turn, we have the top five ways to make your shopping a little easier on your time and your wallet.

— Your handwriting is getting more illegible with each semester

— You try to beat Greg House to a diagnosis

— You have a calendar counting down to the day you can change your Mr./Ms. to Dr.

— You look forward to reading the fine print on your new cell phone agreement

— You are upset that Court TV has stooped to having Star Jones as their lead reporter

— You use legal jargon like “I object” when cussing or swearing

U.S. News & World Report just released its 2007 rankings of the best schools. The report is not without controversy: critics say some schools pour too much time, money and energy into getting a high ranking. Many schools are also boycotting the rankings and won’t divulge their information to the magazine.

Where do you stand? Was grad school ranking important to you when you were selecting a school? Or do you think schools’ focus is better spent improving other areas of their programs?

Junk mail and spam are rampant. Sometimes you may wonder how in the world all those spammers manage to collect enough of your personal information to litter your inbox with endless nonexistent lottery winnings. Well, this article explains how they collect that information and what you can do to remain incognito when surfing the web.

A few weeks ago, we posted one graduate’s reflections on the high price of attending her first-choice school. That got you guys talking, so we thought we’d follow up with this article showing that more and more students are picking their second- and third-choice schools. The big reason, not surprisingly, seems to be the price tag.

Capitol Hill has been at the center of the student loan debate with the newly elected Congress vowing to cut interest rates in half. Well, they just did — the House passed this legislation with overwhelming support, but doubters claim it does little to solve more serious problems with college funding. While supporters say it’s a meaningful step in the right direction, some argue that the focus should be on more grants for low-income students (who might not otherwise get to college in the first place).

What do you think? Read up and weigh in.

A perfect credit score of 850 is virtually impossible, say the experts. But a score that’s close enough will yield the same benefits.

another thing your parents don’t understand.

this article is for you…

Did you get your mail today? Odds are you have some credit card offers or loan consolidation pitches waiting for you. Maybe freshman year you didn’t mind the junk mail so much because, well, getting your own mail was still something of a novelty, right? But you’re older now, the novelty is long gone, and you’d rather not have all that junk in your mailbox.

Luckily, there’s an easy way to end this mailbox madness.

Sponsored by the Wall Street Journal, www.collegejournal.com offers easy to navigate options to student-related articles, helpful search tools for the job-hunters, as well as time-appropriate calculators that all students will find useful (e.g. GPA Calculators, Financial Aid Award Evaluator). This website is one that students of every age will appreciate and will find themselves using long after your diploma is received.

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