02/26/2026
“Aid layering” is a spending strategy that can help you understand which funding sources to prioritize as you pay for college. This strategy suggests spending awards first and reaching for loans last—because a dollar borrowed is a dollar (+interest) that needs to be repaid. Here’s a snapshot of the spending order:
1️⃣ Need-based aid
2️⃣ Merit and other scholarships
3️⃣ 529 plans and savings
4️⃣ Household cash flow
5️⃣ Student loans
You can discover more tips for prioritizing and planning for college costs here: https://bit.ly/4rS1sVv