The Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital both offer the super benefit of paying up to half of your dependent’s college tuition, but you still have the rest of the tuition to pay, plus room and board, which can add up to thousands of dollars! JHFCU offers a number of tools to help you prepare for and pay for the “other half” of those hefty college tuition bills, plus the extra expenses!

Home Equity Line or Loan — Low rates plus a possible tax deduction make these options very attractive for bridging the gap between tuition bills and financial aid. A low-rate Home Equity line of credit can provide an economic option without the hassle of government forms. The Credit Union’s Home Equity lines offer a rate as low as Prime minus 11⁄2% — currently as low as 3.50% APR* (probably the best rate in the market). Or choose a fixed-rate Home Equity loan to pay the bill. Both Home Equity lines and loans have NO closing costs, as long as the loan balance isn’t paid off within the first year.**

Education Savings — Thinking ahead for your education or your children’s education? Start a high-yield Education Savings account today. You can earn higher rates while starting with a small balance, and the accounts help you save, as they feature a 3- or 5-year term. During the initial term you cannot make withdrawals without penalty, but once the initial term expires, you are allowed one withdrawal per quarter with no penalty. You can opt to have payroll deductions go into this account to start building your balance early on.