5 Classroom Activities to Help Students Save for College

Using a variety of classroom activities, you can help students understand the best ways to save for college while making informed decisions about how much to save and how to budget. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of college for full-time college undergraduates in 2023 ranged from $27,000 - $58,600 (depending on the type of institution). These numbers are intimidating for high schoolers, and although most students don’t actually pay these costs out of pocket, it’s hard to know where to begin. 

Here are some hands-on activities that you can use to help students save for college. From creating vision boards that bring their future goals to life, to playing interactive savings simulation games, these activities are designed to make the concept of saving for college both understandable and exciting for students of all ages.

By integrating these strategies into your lessons, you'll not only help students with their college savings but also foster a classroom environment where financial literacy is a natural part of learning. 

Activity 1: "My Future Self" Vision Boards

Objective: Discuss how saving money plays a crucial role in achieving future goals.

Materials: poster board, magazines, newspapers, printed images, markers, stickers, craft supplies

Description: Begin by explaining the concept of a vision board—a visual representation of one's aspirations, dreams, and future goals. Provide each student with a large piece of poster board and a variety of materials like magazines, newspapers, printed images, markers, stickers, and craft supplies. Ask students to think about what they want their lives to look like in 5, 10, or even 15 years, including their career aspirations, the college they dream of attending, places they want to visit, and the lifestyle they envision for themselves.

Students will then use pictures, words, or phrases that represent these goals and arrange them on their vision boards. As a creative twist, you can use a photo editing tool or an AI program to create “aged” photos of each student, projecting them five or ten years into the future. 

Once the vision boards are complete, have a class discussion about what achieving these future goals might require—such as attending college, specific training, or financial stability. Use this as a starting point to discuss the importance of saving money and planning ahead, particularly for large expenses like college tuition. By connecting their personal dreams to real financial decisions, students can better understand the role of saving in achieving their desired future.

Activity 2: How Much to Save for College

Objective: Help students identify how much college actually costs—both before and after scholarships and grants—using college savings calculators and interactive modules.

Materials: Banzai’s online curriculum or worksheets

Description: Create a free Banzai account and invite students to play through all or some activities: Cost of College, Paying for College, College Alternatives, and Vocab Practice. These modules are interactive and engaging, encouraging students to focus on their future and make a plan. 

Cost of College, for example, asks students to choose a future college or trade school they’d like to attend, it then walks students through the actual cost of that school as well as housing, food, and transportation. After getting an accurate estimate of the COA (cost of attendance), students can then work through Paying for College, which helps them understand the difference between gross and net COA and different resources available to them like scholarships, grants, and more. 

You can also use a variety of Banzai Worksheets to support your students, including the Critical Thinking: A Plan for College worksheet, which helps students think about their post-secondary education. 

All of these resources are available to teachers for FREE—try them out here. 

Activity 3: Guest Speakers & Career Day

Objective: Give students access to real people that have successfully navigated steps after high school.

Materials: None

Description: Organize a special event, such as a “Career Day,”  where guest speakers—former students, local professionals, community leaders, or even parents—are invited to share their personal stories about saving for college and the impact it had on their lives and careers. The event can be held as a one-time assembly, a series of classroom visits, or even a panel discussion where multiple speakers share their experiences and advice.

Aim for a mix of speakers who represent different educational paths, such as those who attended four-year universities, community colleges, or vocational schools, to showcase various routes to higher education and the different ways to save for these goals.

During the event, ask speakers to discuss their financial journeys, including how they figured out how to save for college, the strategies they used (like part-time jobs, scholarships, or college savings accounts), and any obstacles they faced along the way. Encourage them to share specific, actionable tips for students on how they can start saving now, such as setting small savings goals, researching scholarships, or using a college savings calculator to estimate future needs.

To make the event more interactive, consider organizing a Q&A session where students can ask the speakers about their experiences, challenges, and advice. You could also incorporate small group discussions or breakout sessions.

Activity 4: Cost of College Research Project

Objective: Help students become aware of the varying costs of higher education and encourage them to start thinking about how much they may need to save.

Materials: Access to online resources that help students scope out the cost of college, including cost predictors on college sites, Banzai’s Cost of College module, national/regional estimates, and more.

Description: Assign students to research the cost of attending different types of colleges (community colleges, state universities, private universities, etc.) across various regions. They should consider tuition, housing, meal plans, books, and other expenses. Each student or group can create a presentation comparing the costs of different options and suggest savings strategies based on their findings. 

You could split students into groups and assign each group a type of post-secondary education or career path to research. Each group will present their findings to the class and include pros and cons of each. 

Activity 5: Scholarship Scavenger Hunt

Objective: Shine a light on the wide variety and number of scholarships available to students—even students who think they don’t qualify because of their gpa or test scores. 

Materials: Access to a computer or search engine.

Description: Organize a scavenger hunt where students search for scholarships online. Provide a list of scholarship types (e.g., academic, athletic, creative arts) and set a time limit. Each student or group needs to find and document at least one scholarship per scholarship type, noting the eligibility requirements and application deadlines. After the hunt, discuss how scholarships can significantly reduce the cost of college and complement their savings efforts.

Encourage students to find a mix of big, national scholarships and small, more niche scholarships. Discuss why it’s wise to apply to both types and the pros and cons of each. 

*Hot Take: You can start your students off with the Banzai Life Literacy Scholarship which requires an essay and to play through two Banzai games (no gpa check!). 

Quick Tips

• Incorporate Real-Life Scenarios: Use activities like savings simulations and role-playing to help students relate to the concept of saving for college.
• Make Learning Interactive: Engage students with games (like Banzai games or a scavenger hunt) to make understanding college costs fun and memorable.
• Utilize Guest Speakers: Invite former students or professionals to share real-world stories about how they saved for college.
• Leverage Online Tools: Use resources like college savings calculators and interactive games to support your lessons.
• Encourage Goal Setting: Have students set savings goals and track their progress with charts and visual aids.

These are just a few ways you can bring college savings into the classroom and encourage students to think about their future. Many students are intrinsically motivated to figure this out, all they need is a little nudge in the right direction!