Beginning the process of applying for college? In addition to researching the specific credentials students need to gain acceptance, planning tours of each school and preparing to submit applications, it’s pivotal that students and their families develop a financial plan for how they will fund each year of their intended degree — before borrowing money for college. Student loans are a financial commitment. So, to help you build an effective financial plan to pay for higher education, we recommend discussing 5 key questions in detail.