Education Needs Analysis

Free CFP Exam lesson in General Principles of Financial Planning. 18 min read, ~2,643 words.

Use education-specific inflation (4-6%), not general CPI (2-3%). The wrong rate understates costs by 25-35% over a 13-year horizon. Calculate each enrollment year separately. Inflation does not pause while the student is enrolled, so the total keeps compounding. Cost of attendance spans tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, transportation, and...