How Concerned Are You About the Cost of College?

College can be very expensive. And navigating how to pay for it can be confusing for many students and families.

There are long, complicated forms to fill out. There are unfamiliar financial terms, like “unsubsidized loans” and “interest capitalization.” There are different prices that different students pay because of financial aid and discounts — sometimes called merit aid — offered by the schools.

As The New York Times writes: “Unfortunately, shopping for college isn’t as simple as shopping for clothes or groceries. It’s more like shopping for airline tickets. Prices can vary widely, even for people sitting in the same row — er, students attending the same college.”

The Times interactive “How Do I Pay for College?” addresses those topics, and more, in language that is written directly to students in a question-and-answer format. A search bar, powered by machine learning, can help readers find the most relevant information. And the project is a work in progress, which means that students (and adults) can suggest new questions and topics that they want to see included.

How concerned are you about the cost of college? What questions do you have about how to pay for it? How much will the cost of college influence your plans after graduating high school?

Here’s an excerpt from the interactive:

I’m just a teenager! Why should I be thinking about this?

Thinking about paying for college and planning a career can seem overwhelming, so know that you’re not alone if you feel a bit lost. Take a deep breath. It’s understandable that you may have only a vague idea of what you want to study in college, or what path to follow to achieve your goals (if you even know what they are yet). But sorting all of that out is part of growing up — and you’ll be better prepared to make decisions if you learn about different types of colleges, how much they cost and the process for paying those costs. And the earlier you start, the better.

In the United States, high school students are, unfortunately, asked to make decisions about financing college that can affect their lives for years to come. By studying up on how student loans work, for example, you can make an informed choice about whether, and how much, to borrow, which can have a long-term impact on your finances. — Ann Carrns

Students, spend a few minutes using the interactive, and then tell us:

• Are you worried about how expensive college is? To what extent do you think the cost of college will affect your decision about what to do after graduating high school?

• What questions do you have about paying for college? If you could talk to a financial-aid expert, what would you ask?

• Type your questions into the search bar, or scroll down to see if they are addressed in the F.A.Q. What did you learn? Did the F.A.Q. help to clear anything up for you?

• What questions or topics do you suggest should be added to the F.A.Q.? We’ll share these comments with the editors, so there’s a chance your input will help them to add information as the year progresses.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.