Financial Literacy Program

The mission of the Financial Literacy Program is to expand students’ understanding of money management strategies that will empower them to make wise and informed financial decisions while achieving their educational goals at CSUN.

Spring 2025 Workshops.  All workshops are approximately 1 hour.  Click on the workshop title to register.

What You Should Know About Student Loans** (March 27, 2:30 pm)
Learn about interest rates, different types of student loans, loan limits, repayment plan options, how to estimate monthly payments, how to avoid loan default, and what to do if you have trouble making payments.

Budgeting and Credit Essentials (April 2, 2:30 pm)
Learn the principles of budgeting including spending wisely, borrowing wisely, prioritizing needs and wants, and several methods that can be used to create a budget. Get an overview of basic credit card terminology.

Getting Started with Investing (April 17, 1:00 pm)
Do you want to begin investing but don't know where to start? This fun and interactive workshop will help you learn about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs and how to choose investments that make sense for you.

Credit Tips and Tricks (April 23, 1:00 pm)
What is a FICO score, and why does it matter? What affects my credit score? What are strategies to build a positive credit history? Learn this and other credit card information every student should know.

Managing Your Money for a Brighter Future (April 29, 4:00 pm)
How you allocate your earnings and income throughout your life can impact your future. It’s never too early to start building a financial plan for emergency savings, long-term goals, and retirement.

Student Loans—Know Before You Go (May 6, 1:00pm.  In person, no registration)*
Location:  University Student Union, Computer Lab
This workshop is designed for graduating students, or those who will soon begin loan repayment. How much have you borrowed? What might your monthly payments be? How can you pave the way to successful student loan repayment? Know before you go!

*Note: This workshop does not substitute for the federally mandated Loan Entrance/Exit Counseling requirements.

For questions regarding these workshops, email sonya@csun.edu

Requests for accommodation services (e.g., sign language interpreters or transcribers) must be made at least five (5) business days in advance. Please contact Kathryn Vanegas at kathryn.vanegas@csun.edu

Please visit our CSUN Financial Literacy YouTube Page to see our past webinars.

When you’re a student, it can feel like money is always tight. You’ve got bills, rent, and tuition to pay, and you want to have enough money for fun, too. So how can you get on the right path to a great financial future, while making your money count today?

CashCourse is your easy guide to making informed financial choices. Get prepared for whatever life has in store: Register for a free account, and take charge of your money.

Visit the website at www.cashcourse.org

Gain finance tool for real-life. Students across the country use CashCourse, and here’s why:

1. It’s easy to use. CashCourse offers you a customizable set of tools so you can make decisions that fit your life.
2. It’s free from commercials. You can trust that the information on CashCourse and you’ll never be advertise any products or services.
3. It’s 100% FREE. CashCourse won’t cost you a penny—ever.

The following are resources to help you make wise and informed decisions about your finances.

• http://budget.cashcourse.org/
• http://www.feedthepig.org/
• http://www.mint.com
• http://www.igrad.com/FinancialLiteracyForCollegeStudents/
• http://www.thesimpledollar.com
• http://www.mymoney.gov

The Financial Literacy Program partners with University 100, CSUN Faculty, and Student Clubs/Orgs to offer presentations designed to empower students and assist them in making informed financial decisions. Below are some examples of financial literacy topics. As a service to our campus community, our Financial Literacy Program staff is available to come to your classes for a presentation.

Budgeting & Credit Essentials for College Students
Students will learn the principles of budgeting including spending wisely, borrowing wisely, setting goals, prioritizing needs and wants, and several methods that can be used to create a budget.  They will also receive an overview of basic credit card terminology.

Credit Card Essentials
Students will learn how to understand the fine print on credit card applications, and become responsible credit card users.  The will also learn the basics behind credit reports and scores, what impacts credit history, and how to maintain good credit.

Funding Your CSU Graduate Education
Students will learn about cost of attendance, how to apply for aid, types of financial aid available, and where to search for scholarships and institutional aid.  We will also discuss additional financial considerations that impact lifestyle and budget changes when planning for graduate school expenses.

Student Loans
Students will learn about the different types of student loans, where to find reliable information, interest rates, loan limits, how to estimate future loan payments, forbearance, deferment, and strategies for successful repayment.

For additional information or presentation requests please contact:

Sonya Adlersberg
Financial Literacy Coordinator
email: sonya.adlersberg@csun.edu

Check out The Financial Literacy Program by following and subscribing to our pages. You can find us on the following social media outlets.

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