Financial literacy is especially important for college students, given the costs of taking on excessive student debt or selecting a school or major that isn’t a good match. With a background in college admissions, recruitment, and finance, the University of Alaska’s Lael Oldmixon shares insight on navigating today’s costly higher education environment as she explores student loans, 529 savings accounts, and balancing academics with a job.

Lael, the executive director of the Education Trust of Alaska, also discusses considerations in choosing the right college, making the most of aid and scholarships, and selecting the right type of student loan, if one is necessary. Among the pieces of advice she shares with podcast host John Bryson: If one is available, choose a subsidized loan over an unsubsidized one and try to avoid using a credit card to cover college costs.