How to Raise Financial Literacy for College Students

If you’re curious to learn more about presenting a program to raise financial literacy for college students, this is the correct place to begin. On this site, we concentrate on choosing the best topic areas for this age group, and how to incorporate pieces that help a young adult audience meet its unique financial challenges. Financial literacy programs for youth that truly work are those that consider these factors.

Three Prime Topics for College Financial Literacy Programs

The subjects taught in college financial literacy programs should have relevancy to the actual situations and life events to which the students will be exposed. The following three topics are prime subject areas for young people of college age.

Living on One’s Own: college students will find value in instructional components that prepare them to meet the needs and expenses of living independently for the first time. This training might incorporate financial goal-setting, budget planning, renter’s insurance, and use of credit.

Funding Educational Choices: this training will be most useful to young adults prior to embarking on their educational journey. Essential topics might involve choosing a higher education institution and major course of study based on ROI; and finding ways to fund that path such as part-time employment, grants, loans, or scholarships. The US Department of Education also published this student loan guideline document.

Handling Life after College: getting a college degree is worth more if students have a plan to meet life’s demands after they graduate. That’s why financial literacy for college students should include a segment that helps them understand student loans and how to make a career plan.

Aptitude for Financial Literacy for College Students Capabilities

Developing Financial Literacy for College Grads

Any financial literacy program should take the age and developmental stage of the audience into account. A personal finance course specifically for college students is no different. When creating a program in financial literacy for college grads, that means understanding the accumulation of factors that have contributed to their current financial knowledge levels and situations.

How a student’s family is situated on the socioeconomic scale is the first factor that has effect on that student’s money management. Whether wealthy or poor, the influence of family heritage can be either positive or negative. And not only parents, but the college student’s peers, environment, and advertising exposure over the years clearly affect his or her future financial behaviors.

Attitudes, beliefs, and emotions about money start early and get stronger as youth mature. Money management coursework for college students should address this emotional background. By the time students reach college, their financial sentiments have solidified and now determine the level of confidence and self-efficacy they feel about personal finance decisions.

Unfortunately, too few college students have received any financial training when they reach their educational destination. Neither parents nor schools are succeeding to promote college financial literacy. That’s why teaching financial literacy to college-level students is so important. As teens, these students get into the habit of spending rather than saving; and many do not have basic financial management systems in place. Financial literacy for college grads will do well to help them grasp the importance of organizing their money and finding a trusted professional to guide them.

Accepted Financial Literacy for College Students Approaches

College Student Financial Literacy Curriculum

The NFEC college-level financial literacy curriculum is designed to help universities accomplish a variety of objectives while they empower current and future students with personal finance skills.

Today’s students face a challenging economic future; yet sadly the average college does little or nothing to prepare young adults for the financial real world. While most universities do offer some type of financial literacy resources, very few students actually reap their benefits. Often programs are boring, fail to connect with students, and/or lack effective promotion.

The benefits of a college money management program extend far beyond helping students. The NFEC’s programs also support important university objectives. Colleges have used NFEC programs to aid student recruitment, reduce student loan defaults, connect with parents, build community goodwill, and attract media attention.

College Student Financial Literacy Programs

Over 10 Specialty Workshops
Long-Term Assessment
Print on Demand Center

0 Hours

69 Classroom Hours

0 Lessons

77 Modular Lessons

0 Activities

Over 98 Student Activities

0 Reprints

Student Guide Reprint License

The College Student Financial Literacy Programs are designed for those seeking to host workshops on core financial education topics, including budgeting, student loans, credit, savings, and investment basics. Practical activities, multimedia videos, testing, and practical student guides help students pick up fundamental core lessons.

Over 10 different pre-packaged presentations included: Living on Your Own, Paying for College, Car Buying Workshop, Career Planning, Investing 101, Building Your Financial Foundation, and more.
Over 69 classroom hours across 77 lessons
98 engaging activities and educational games
Outside-of-class study material
Testing, surveys, and long-term assessments
Instructors resources – Teachers guide, PPT, Multimedia tools
Print on Demand Center with 100 Student Guide reprints

Click Here for The Latest Curriculum & Complimentary Workshop Packages

Full Service College Solutions

The NFEC gives you access to more than 80 financial literacy assets and an expert team with a positive record of successful campus-wide financial education campaigns. Program launch events, mobile learning apps, celebrity guest speakers, interactive games, and more are available to bring to your campus. Targeted branding, marketing, and program designs help the NFEC create engaging programs that move students to take action toward enhancing their financial futures. The result: college money management programs that make a positive, lasting difference in students’ lives.

Article: College Student Financial Literacy Program Helps Students and Universities Prosper

The primary goal of a college or university is to prepare young adults to become thriving, contributing members of society. And a college student financial literacy program may be the single best way to ensure success, for both the students and the school.

All across the United States college campuses are beginning to grasp the importance of financial literacy for college students. For example, research has shown that students who learn practical money management skills are more likely to stay in school and to become employed post-graduation. The National Financial Educators Council (NFEC), in collaboration with a team of financial and educational experts, has developed a complete set of personal finance educational resources that schools may adapt to suit a variety of objectives.

A prime example of the cutting-edge resources available through the NFEC is the Real Money Experience (RMX) multimedia presentation. This presentation is the most popular NFEC program among colleges and students. The multimedia RMX format combines DVDs, live instructor facilitation, testing, and practical activities that have real-world applicability. For instance, before and after the presentation the participants complete a financial literacy quiz for college students. This instrument helps the university and other program sponsors measure how much the program boosts participants’ knowledge about personal finance.

In addition to RMX the NFEC provides a variety of other turnkey options for promoting financial literacy on a college campus. All the curriculum materials are supplemented with promotional and outreach materials, instructor and student guides, PowerPoint presentations, and surveys to measure impact. These resources are fun and entertaining for students, while also aligned with core educational standards.

Students, schools, parents, and communities alike benefit from choosing to implement college financial literacy programs. These engaging programs move students of higher learning toward enhancing their financial futures and bring positive attention to the sponsoring school.

College Financial Literacy Campaigns

The NFEC’ financial literacy for college students programs give students practical financial education tools that will serve them through college and beyond. The college level financial literacy curriculum are designed to help universities accomplish a variety of objectives while they empower current and future students with knowledge about personal financial skills. To learn about the NFEC’s comprehensive college money management campaigns.

While entertaining, the NFEC college student financial literacy programs have high educational value as well. The events, curriculum, and materials are aligned with core educational standards. Developed by a team of financial education experts, award-winning educators, and financial professionals, the NFEC package provides practical personal finance education at the university level.

Bring engaging, fun, and interactive lessons to your campus. Delivering compelling, relevant content increases retention rates and makes the process more enjoyable for students and educators alike. The NFEC’s financial literacy curriculum bridges the gap between real-world application and theory-based education. Students complete practical activities and exercises that will help them manage their finances now and when they move out on their own. The financial literacy presentations are designed in a modular format to accommodate a variety of schedules. All the presentations include testing and surveys to measure program impact.

The NFEC’s financial literacy curriculum is not affiliated with any credit card company or financial institution. The NFEC is an independent social enterprise organization and the sole purpose of the material is to improve participants’ financial capabilities.

The NFEC’s Certified Financial Education Instructor professional development class provides the knowledge, credibility, and confidence to teach personal finance effectively. The program can be tailored to fit state standards and can be delivered as either a certified or non-certified professional development course.

Past certified trainers on college campuses have included students, educators, student groups, volunteers, and financial aid personnel—anyone with a passion for sharing the financial literacy message. Upon successful completion of the professional development coursework and testing, graduates are registered as Certified Financial Education Instructors and receive a graduation certificate.

Top-rated curriculum and presentations provide benefit only if students are in attendance. The NFEC helps universities attract students to the event, inform faculty of the resources available, and let the community know about your financial education program. Receive easily customizable marketing pieces that help your school fill the seats. The advertisements, fliers, newsletters, and communication tools included in our marketing package help you leave a positive first impression and create buzz around the events.

The NFEC also provides one-on-one consulting and support. Our team has designed over a thousand programs and campaigns—they will share best practices with your team to ensure the success of your initiative.

The NFEC encourages higher-learning institutions to continue the college student financial literacy programs in perpetuity. To support this objective, sustainability resources can be provided, including a sponsorship form, grant guide, and resources to help colleges raise funds to support the program.

Besides the fundraising tools, a financial education program can deliver a measurable ROI based on student recruitment. Financial education is a hot topic among students and their families. More than 77% of 428 people surveyed by the NFEC answered “Yes” or “Definitely Yes” when asked the question, “Would you have a more favorable opinion of schools that offered comprehensive financial literacy programs?”

Comprehensive college money management packages are customized to suit the needs of your students, community and college. From smaller workshops to campus and statewide campaigns – the NFEC can design a program that aligns with your specific objective. The services offered reduce the time, cost and personnel needed to fulfill your objectives.

Schedule your complementary 30 minute consultation call now. The NFEC consultant will learn more about your needs, answer any questions you have and share advice on how to develop an effective campaign. Two business days after the call you will receive a detailed proposal of the financial education service that meets your budgetary requirements.

I have received constant e-mails – the buzz seems to be growing instead of slowing down. The kids are still so excited it is unreal. They got a lot from the event and its motivating them in the class according to some of the teachers. I love it that the community I have lived in for so long has been so blessed by all of this. Thank you so much for all you do; what you have put together is great.

Karen Troester, Vice-President of US Bank, Grand Junction, CO

We chose to provide the NFEC curriculum because it balances practical application with core educational standards. The lessons are engaging, making it enjoyable for teachers and students alike. We also liked that it incorporates a comprehensive educator training program to empower those delivering the information with the tools to maximize the effectiveness of the coursework.

Erica K. Jackson, CFCO Director with Penn State Erie, the Behrend College

We just received the Financial Literacy Event Report. This is fantastic! We can easily show our board how much students learned. We’ve just begun planning our summer conference, and would like to offer the scholars your amazing financial workshop. Thank you again! I can’t wait to share this.

Joanna Mueller, Program Director of the Simon Family Foundation

Every parent wants best for their kid, so teach them about money because it impacts their wellbeing, emotional health and overall health. It allows them to live out their dream and be successful, it’s the biggest important lesson parents can pass on to their kids.

Vince Shorb, CEO of the National Financial Educators Council as quoted in Fox Business

Working with the NFEC was an excellent opportunity for us to learn and perfect our implementation strategies for our outreach program. Receiving the training and becoming Certified has given the program the extra boost and noteworthiness. Since our certification has become public, we’ve received several calls from community organizations and summer camps interested in our financial education program.

Kimberly Knox, Financial Coordinator of the NCMSC

The program is going wonderfully. Kelly is doing an awesome job and our clients have been very receptive of the information and her presentation. Thanks again, the presentation went GREAT, we will be talking with you soon.

Chrystal Carlisle, Social Services Supervisor of the Salvation Army, Dallas Fort Worth

NFEC Promotes Financial Literacy for College Students

Colleges and universities all over the U.S. are beginning to recognize the massive potential value of programs that teach financial literacy for college students. According to the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC), an independent for-profit social enterprise organization, money problems form the number one reason why students drop out of higher education. Receiving the benefits of a college financial literacy program can make a huge difference in helping young adults stay in school.

But student retention is only one benefit of presenting financial literacy—college students not only receive practical money knowledge, but colleges can leverage the program toward accomplishing a variety of objectives. Students who study financial literacy topics are less likely to default on their student debts. Graduation rates go up. And the programs serve as attractive features for recruiting new students.

The NFEC has a college-level financial literacy curriculum that now is being used across the country and around the world to empower young adults with the skills they need to live successful lives post-graduation. The NFEC has a team of skilled, qualified financial professionals standing ready to tailor a campaign to a given university’s individual and outreach needs.

From standalone workshops to comprehensive campus-wide and community campaigns, the NFEC has a variety of solutions to build financial literacy on a college campus. Their packages take a holistic approach to promoting financial wellness, with materials designed to reach not only students but also parents, staff, adults interested in picking up money skills, and organized campus groups.

“I think everyone should take the class at least once,” was a comment from a community college student who recently took the NFEC’s Financial Empowerment Workshop. The hands-on approach used in this course is designed to bring the lessons home and demonstrate practical skills that can last a lifetime.

Financial Literacy for College Students

Providing financial literacy programs for college students can help them excel in college and beyond. The vast majority of coursework that college students receive leading up to college helps them pick up the skills to earn more money. However, little if any time is spent showing them how to keep and grow the money they earn. Providing financial literacy for students can help balance out their education.

Most agree that having a college degree gives people an advantage. Studies show college graduates will earn almost a half-million more over their lifetime then someone that has not received their college degree. Even with a $500k advantage, there are many college graduates in foreclosure, debt and struggling financially simply because they simply were not provided a personal finance education.

The NFEC takes a holistic approach when designing financial literacy programs for college students. Focus is placed on helping the university accomplish their objectives as students are provided a practical financial education. Besides wanting college graduates to excel after school, many of the colleges the NFEC works with state three main objectives when developing a college money management program.

Reduce student loan defaults. With today’s employment market, providing financial literacy for college students is becoming increasingly important. Study after study shows our youth and adults fail basic financial literacy tests. They don’t know how to budget, save nor do they understand the importance of credit. It’s no secret why the student loan default rates are so high.

The NFEC offers unique programs to help universities reduce student loan default rates. From multi-media learning centers to structured coursework, events and financial literacy workshops. The NFEC’s latest events leverages technology to create an experiential learning experience that is fun and memorable. Making financial literacy for college students enjoyable and unique can improve the retention rates of the lessons.

Protect Title IV Funding. This issue is becoming increasingly important especially for the ‘for-profit college’ community. Adding programs that increase the financial capability of college students can help to protect Title IV Funding by reducing student default and dropout rates. Plus it can save all colleges the hassle of recalculating eligibility funds for that semester.

Improve graduation rates. Financial difficulties are one of the leading causes of students dropping out of college or ‘taking a semester off’. Ensuring your students have completed a college financial literacy program can help the students be prepared for the financial realities they face in school.

One of our favorite programs, especially for entering freshmen, is the Real Money Experience money management workshop – Video below. Besides preparing them for their college finances it also motivates them to earn their degree and to start planning for their future after college. Getting the students to focus on the financial benefits a college degree offers and showing them how starting to save early can help them achieve their dreams can help to get them focused on the big picture. The results can be having highly motivated students.

Below is video that Penn State Erie filmed to highlight their financial literacy initiatives and partnership with the NFEC.

NFEC Demonstrates Commitment to College Students and Financial Literacy

Demonstrating its firm dedication to both college students and financial literacy, the National Financial Educators Council has developed full-scale money management programs to be implemented across college campuses nationwide. Using a holistic approach, the NFEC builds campaigns to increase the financial capabilities of young adults across the U.S. These campaigns may include curriculum, presentations, and online resources, as well as tools to build awareness and raise funds.

The NFEC created its campaigns to teach financial literacy for college students in collaboration with a select Advisory Board composed of award-winning educators, financial experts and professionals. The resulting programs meet core educational standards, yet present materials in fun and engaging ways to which college students can truly relate. Experiential learning methods and practical application drive the messages home by relating the lessons to real-world money issues.

Some college financial literacy programs use a didactic lecture format, which makes them dry, boring, and quickly forgotten. “At first when I heard I had to attend this course, I thought it would be boring,” commented one community college student who participated in a NFEC Financial Empowerment Workshop. “It was not boring and the speaker was excellent. I enjoyed it very much.”

These financial education programs for the university level give students practical financial education tools that will serve them throughout college and beyond. Teaching financial literacy to college students prepares them to meet the real money challenges they will face upon graduation. At the same time, the colleges can use these programs as leverage to accomplish many of their institutional goals. For example, one Midwestern university recently extended its campus financial literacy initiative to be available to citizens across the state. This expanded program reach was achieved through partnerships and funding opportunities fostered by the university’s collaboration with the NFEC.

National Financial Educators Council Promotes College Financial Literacy

Undertaking an initiative to promote financial literacy for college students has amazing potential for any institute of higher learning. While offering their students a chance at a better future, colleges and universities also can achieve many high-level goals by implementing such a program. Student recruitment and retention, improved graduation rates, reduced loan defaults, and protecting Title IV funds form just a few examples of benefits a financial literacy campaign can deliver.

In the realm of personal finance, college students today face a lot of challenges. Recent surveys indicate that financial problems are the top reason why young people drop out of college. Yet while many colleges may have recognized this issue, few have taken effective action. Many universities have some type of financial literacy resources. But most are boring, didactic, and fail to connect the lessons with real-world student experiences. And most existing programs lack effective promotional strategies. As a result, very few students are reached.

Now there’s a new approach to raising college personal finance awareness. The National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) has a variety of solutions from which colleges may pick and choose to create a custom campus financial literacy initiative.

The NFEC is an independent, for-profit organization with a socially responsible philosophy. The organization is committed to building financial competencies among a global audience. Their college student financial literacy programs are aimed at empowering students with practical personal finance education, while simultaneously helping colleges achieve important institutional goals.

While becoming empowered with financial literacy, college students have chosen the NFEC presentations as their most popular component. The presentations come in three packages, all designed in modular format to meet a variety of schedules. The Real Money Experience (RMX) multimedia workshop is a four-hour presentation that combines videos, live facilitation, practical activities, and evaluation. The college-level curriculum package comprises more than 80 talks, activities, and games. The RMX project-based game leads students through hands-on practice making the financial decisions they’ll face post-graduation.

A college or university interested in financial literacy programs for college students also may choose to sponsor the NFEC’s Certified Financial Education Instructor training on campus. This professional development class provides graduates with the knowledge, credibility, and confidence to become highly-effective personal finance trainers. In the past, certified instructors trained on college campuses have included educators, student groups, volunteers, and financial aid staff.

The NFEC’s educational model incorporates an evaluation component to measure program impact. Pre- and post-tests have been designed to assess changes in participant knowledge and confidence before and after taking the coursework. This financial literacy quiz for college students provides the institution with valuable information about campaign success that can be leveraged to raise community awareness and attract media attention.

The unique feature of the NFEC financial literacy for college students curriculum is the practical nature of its activities. Hands-on instruction and experiential learning lend students a sense of becoming empowered to make the important financial decisions they’ll face in the real world. Practical applicability is a key method for avoiding dry, boring lessons. And the NFEC’s certified trainers are well-versed in interactive strategies to engage students and make the activities fun.

Recent research has shown that games are a particularly good way to teach skills for maximum retention. The Real Money Experience (RMX) offers a good illustration of the NFEC’s successful financial literacy games for college students. This project-based learning game offers participants an eye-opening preview of their financial futures. Each activity asks students to practice making a key money decision they’ll face after graduation.

The NFEC’s college financial literacy programs do far more than educate. They also have potential to build sustainability. Universities can use the college financial literacy programs as leverage to attract sponsors and obtain grant funding. Moreover, campus financial literacy initiatives are appealing to prospective students and their parents. By helping increase enrollment and retention, such campaigns can deliver the college an excellent return on investment.

Last year an east coast community college decided to turn NFEC resources into a campus-wide initiative. This school presented a series of financial literacy activities for college students over a semester-long period. The comprehensive campaign included a Financial Empowerment Workshop series, three mini-workshops, contests, free online financial education resources, and a booth at the college’s Spring Fling event.

The NFEC’s comprehensive campaigns linking college students and financial literacy can be customized to suit the individual college’s schedule, budget, and objectives. From a one-hour workshop to a statewide initiative, the NFEC can customize a program that aligns with institutional goals. NFEC products and services reduce the time, personnel, and cost needed to implement a financial literacy program.

And the programs really make a difference. For example, to a college student, budgeting effectively may pose a nearly insurmountable difficulty. The Money Management 101 lesson has students prepare personal budgets that really work. “What I liked most was how to budget my money,” commented one student who participated. “I got some good advice on how to rebuild my credit.”

The NFEC also offers highly-qualified presenters to teach a personal finance college course. All certified graduates of the instructor training automatically become members of the Personal Finance Speakers Association, the first nationwide speakers’ bureau solely focused on the financial literacy agenda. These speakers are available for classes, talks, and keynote addresses worldwide. a difference. For example, to a college student, budgeting effectively may pose a nearly insurmountable difficulty. The Money Management 101 lesson has students prepare personal budgets that really work. “What I liked most was how to budget my money,” commented one student who participated. “I got some good advice on how to rebuild my credit.”

Promoting money management for college students helps them develop into successful, contributing society members after they graduate. And learning how to manage money in college will help kids avoid the financial pitfalls—like overwhelming credit card and student debt—with which so many U.S. adults are grappling today. Learning effective money management in college empowers young people with a set of skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

During the process of learning about money management, college students might pick up some inspiration to pursue ideas for entrepreneurship. Whether or not they become motivated to start their own small businesses, entrepreneurial skills can benefit students in many ways. The traits that make a good entrepreneur—such as determination, goal-orientation, strong ethics, and resilience—are applicable to succeeding in nearly every aspect of life.

Another key skill set advocated by the NFEC for teaching college students money management is how to build a trusted team of financial advisors. While kids are in college, this may start with finding a mentor. Creating a positive relationship with a good mentor will save young people years of time spent learning by trial and error. College professors, instructors, and employers provide excellent sources for experienced individuals who may be willing to mentor a student.

Mentorship and other efforts to promote money management skills for college students have many more benefits for a college or university. The NFEC collaborates with higher education institutions across the U.S. Such collaborations have yielded positive ROI for schools in terms of student recruitment, building connections with parents, fostering community goodwill, and attracting media coverage.

Money management activities for college students can be found not only in the NFEC college financial literacy curriculum and presentations, but also in the online resource and learning center to which colleges may gain free access. A university might supplement a campus-wide financial literacy campaign by making these free tools available to students, or use the online center as its total personal finance education solution. Just like the curriculum and RMX game, the online resources are practical, applicable, and fun.

Every program designed by the NFEC at the college level offers money management tips for college students. For example, students need to learn the essentials of banking and how to set up an appropriate account structure. The basics of saving and investing, compounding interest, career planning, educational goals, community service, and networking also form key lessons in the NFEC materials. These programs are all about succeeding in the real world.

A financial literacy campaign will only achieve success if students actually show up. That’s why the NFEC also emphasizes effective marketing and promotion. They will provide easily customizable marketing packages that help colleges attract students to events, inform faculty and staff about available resources, and raise community and media awareness about the initiative. Another set of tools to raise awareness are the money management articles for college students available through the online resource center. These articles might be sent as press releases or guest columns to local newspapers to attract attention to the university’s financial literacy efforts.

The team of financial literacy experts at the NFEC offers a free initial consultation to college administrators to learn more about college financial literacy programming options. A skilled consultant will answer questions, assess individual needs, and help tailor a package to meet unique institutional objectives.

Financial Literacy College Students

When it comes to financial literacy, college students in the U.S. may be at a distinct disadvantage. According to recent studies, current economic conditions mean as many as 70% of college graduates are likely to move back in with their parents after they receive their degrees. But now there’s a solution: the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) has a broad scope of initiatives to promote financial literacy for college students.

Delivering compelling, relevant college financial literacy training has the potential to help both students and schools achieve a variety of goals. Colleges and universities, in collaboration with the NFEC, can develop programs that maximize student retention and encourage positive behavior change to help young adults build secure futures. The NFEC resources are modular in design to facilitate customization.

While solidly based in theory, the NFEC curriculum also is designed to be fun and engaging for the participants. The financial literacy activities for college students utilize hands-on strategies to give young people a chance to practice the money management skills they’ll need once they venture out into the real world. All the events, curriculum materials, and online resources were developed by an award-winning team of educators, financial education experts, and financial professionals.

For colleges and universities, improving student financial literacy has many advantages. Financial problems have been cited as the major reason why students drop out of college. Improved graduation rates make institutions more attractive to new students. And giving students the tools they need to succeed in life enhances a college’s reputation with parents, donors, the media, and the community as a whole.

Universities around the country may take advantage of the NFEC’s turnkey solutions to promoting financial literacy among students, staff, and community members. Learn how these tools can be leveraged to accomplish institutional objectives.