As college application season rolls around, parents might begin to worry how their student will be able to fund college. Though a common fear among parents, it’s important to remember all the financial options that are available and that college is still possible even if the money seems impossible. From dual credit in high school to applying for scholarships and grants and everything in between (ahem, work study), students have many ways of decreasing those hefty college bills.

Of course the most popular option nowadays is taking out a college loan. Parents might not like the idea of their child going into debt—let's face it, no one loves having a balance pay off—but loans can be a great way for students to invest in their future. Of course taking out all that money isn’t as easy as an I.O.U. slip that you’d give to the lunch lady back in the day. That’s why it’s important for both students and their parents to understand the ins and outs of borrowing such a big chunk of change from the bank. We suggest checking out the latest TXGU video for Understanding College Loans where you’ll hear from real loan recipients and parents whose kids used loans during college. Their stories will prove to parents why the pros totally outweigh the cons.