Personal Finance | Washburn University

Invest In Yourself

Invest in yourself, invest in your future. Managing your personal finance and improving your financial health is crucial to the success of every Ichabod. The Bod Money Management Program is committed to providing our students with the knowledge and tools necessary to be financially literate and healthy. The skills learned through our program will benefit students long after graduation.

What are overdraft fees?

Yearly overdraft fees have increased steadily. Some financial institutions have stopped charging overdraft fees during the pandemic, but many continue. What are these fees, anyway? And why do most banks still charge them?

Is college worth it?

Many recent college grads end up with a job as a retail employee and such, so is college really worth it? Yes, college graduates make over $400,000 more than people without, proof of the benefit a college education can provide.

Budgeting while in College
- A budget is the first step in getting control of your finances. It can help you plan your semester so you have enough funds, reduce your borrowing and find places to save on everyday expenses. Below are tools to help you budget.
  - Bod Money Budget (excel file)
  - There are free apps you can also use to manage your money.
    - Intuit's mint.com
    - Money Lover

Money Management
- Learning about money and how to manage it is vital to your success. Below are some resources to improve your own financial literacy.
  - CashCourse.org: A free financial literacy course for college students. CashCourse was developed by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE).

Everyone Needs an Emergency Fund!
- My car tires need replaced, my tooth is hurting or I lost my job. All these are examples of emergencies you may face while in college. An emergency fund can help you navigate unexpected expenses. Below are some ways to help save for that rainy day.
  - An essential guide to building an emergency fund
  - Emergency Fund: What It Is and Why It Matters

Tax Credits Can Help You Offset the Cost of College
- Taxes are a part of adult life take charge of your finances and understand how college affects your taxes. Below is a link to the University’s Business Office webpage
  - 1098-T Information

Understanding Federal Student Aid
- The federal government’s student aid page offers information on various topics like completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Student Loans.

GET IN TOUCH WITH Financial Aid

Financial Aid Office
1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621

Phone & Email
Ph: 785-670-1151
Fax: 785-670-1079
financialaid@washburn.edu