Top 3 Reasons College Tuition Insurance Is a Smart Decision

For college families and their students, when discussing college, the conversation almost always turns to money. For a good reason, according to the College Board’s 2016 Trends in College Pricing – the average published in‐state tuition and fee and room and board charges for 2016-17 are $20,090, and for out-of-state students, total costs are $35,370. The average published total charges at private nonprofit four-year institutions are $45,370.

In fact, for many college families, the expense of higher education is one of the most significant investments they will make. With so much money at stake, GradGuard suggests that college parents make a plan if your student is forced to withdraw from school due to a nasty bout of mono, illness, or injury. If you can afford to pay the cost of an extra semester, then you may not need tuition insurance.

However, for most of the nearly twenty million college students and their families, the cost of an extra semester would be a real financial burden. As a result, college families are wise to consider purchasing Tuition Insurance before the start of school.

The Top 3 Reasons Tuition Insurance is a Smart Decision:

  1. If you can’t afford to lose the investment you are making in your semester of school – Tuition insurance can provide up to 100% refund for your expenses if a student gets sick, injured or have to leave school due to the death of a parent. Tuition insurance can cover those costs and help you get back on your feet in the event of a withdrawal, without the added stress of a financial loss.
  2. If your school does not provide 100% refund  – Do you know what your school’s refund policy is?  A majority of school refund policies do not extend beyond the fifth week of the semester, and many don’t refund the full cost of tuition after the start of classes. Be sure to check with your school to see what their policy is and how much money is at risk. Check GradGuard’s school search function to see if your school offers tuition insurance to students.
  3. If you have more than $2,500 of academic expenses – Even if the school provides a 100% refund for tuition, most schools do not refund academic fees or student housing.  Many tuition insurance plans provide coverage for not only tuition but also for expenses related to academic fees and student housing.

According to the American College Health Association research, student health incidents such as illnesses, accidents, and injuries frequently happen, even to young and healthy college students. The good news is that college families can protect their investment by purchasing tuition insurance coverage starting at $33.75 for $2,500 per term. Reme er, tuition insurance must be purchased before the start of school, and, like all insurance plans, be sure to check the specific terms, conditions, and exclusions of your policy.