In trying to decide what type of college will best meet your wants and needs there are many things to consider. Listed below are some of the factors you will need to consider in deciding where you want to go to college.
Type of institution- Private or Public. College or University. Church sponsored.
Colleges can be either public or private. Public colleges are those that are supported by the state in which they are located. Many highly ranked colleges in the United States are state-supported institutions. These colleges can often provide an excellent education at a price for an in-state resident …

With all the research and paperwork that goes into college planning, it is very easy to become confused, even disoriented, with making sure the right forms are submitted at the right time to the right people.  The following timeline was provided by Tamara E. Holmes from Bankrate.com and is an excellent resource for parents of high school seniors preparing for college.
September

Look for scholarship opportunities. Some employers offer scholarship money to children of employees. Sometimes local organizations have scholarship programs for high school seniors. Meet with your high school counselor to get information …

The lifetime learning credit provides a tax credit of 20% of up to $10,000, or up to $2,000, of qualified expenses per taxpayer per year.  It is available for all years of post-secondary education and for courses taken to acquire or improve job skills.  This credit is available even if the student is enrolled in just one course at an eligible institution.  There is no limit on the number of years the lifetime learning credit can be claimed for each student.

Generally, the same expenses that either qualify or do not qualify for the Hope credit apply to the lifetime learning …

Traditionally, the Hope credit provides a tax credit of up to 100% of the first $1,200 of qualified education expenses plus 50% of the next $1,200, per student per year.  However, in February, 2009 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was passed which modified the provisions of the Hope credit.  These new provisions are explained in greater detail below and are applicable for 2009 and 2010 only.

The credit is based on qualified education expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent for whom you claim an exemption on your tax return.  Further, the Hope credit is …

Below are total costs for some of the top universities in the United States, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. These figures represent the total cost of sending a Texas-resident student to each school for the 2009-10 school year, including tuition, room and board, fees, books, and miscellaneous expenses.

For colleges in Texas:

Public Universities:

University of Texas        $25,284
Texas A&M University $20,531
Texas Tech University $18,464
University of Houston $16,418
Stephen F. Austin University $11,360

Private Universities:

Rice University                       $45,685
Southern Methodist Univ. $43,295
Baylor University                 $42,898
University of St. Thomas    $30,906
St. Mary’s University           $30,266

Other colleges in the United States:

Exclusive Universities:

Stanford University $53,652
Harvard University $52,000
Brown University $50,560
Dartmouth College $49,974
Princeton …