Lower costs
Pay less for the same degree
We find the schools likely to offer your student real money, file aid forms without costly errors, and help you compare and appeal every offer.
FreeCollege funding strategy for families
Stop overpaying for college.
Getting the best college education at the best price.
Expert admissions and financial aid guidance that helps your student get into a school that fits, and helps your family pay far less than the sticker price.
- Scholarships & grants
- Smart financial planning
- Avoid costly mistakes
1-on-1 strategy session30 minutes · no obligation
Year one cost Example
Sticker price$84,000
Grants & scholarships−$49,500
Your family pays$34,500
The sticker price is only an opening number. Families who understand how colleges award aid pay far less for the very same degree.
What we do
Admissions and money, planned together.
Where your student applies decides what you'll pay. We plan both from day one, so one never undoes the other.
Stronger applications
Stand out to admissions
Shape your student's list, activities, and essays into one clear story.
Expert team
A team in your corner
Counselors and funding specialists who answer the questions you didn't know to ask.
Less stress
A calmer senior year
One shared timeline for every deadline, form, and decision, so nothing slips through the cracks.
Cost calculator
See what a family really pays.
Move the sliders to see how grants and scholarships change the price of a year at college.
Your family pays
$33,000
per year, instead of $70,000
- Need-based grants$25,000
- Merit scholarships$12,000
- Family pays$33,000
$148,000 saved over four years
Get your real numbersFor illustration only. Your free strategy session looks at your family's real numbers.
How it works
Where is your student right now?
Pick a stage to see what we focus on. You can start at any point, and starting earlier keeps more options open.
Grades 9–10
Set up options before they're needed
Early choices about classes and family finances shape both admissions and aid years later.
- Course and activity choices with purpose
- A first look at how colleges will see your finances
- A long-term timeline for the whole family
Grade 11
Build a list that fits, and that you can afford
A balanced list weighs your student's goals, real admission odds, and likely cost, not just name recognition.
- Career and major exploration
- Reach, match, and likely schools
- Estimated net cost for each school
Grade 12, fall
Applications that make a strong case
We help your student present who they are clearly, and submit at the right time for each school.
- Essay brainstorming and editing
- Early decision and early action strategy
- Application review before you submit
Grade 12, winter
Get the aid your student qualifies for
Small mistakes on aid forms can cost thousands. We make sure yours are complete, accurate, and on time.
- Financial aid forms prepared and reviewed
- Scholarship search and applications
- Side-by-side offer comparison and appeals
Grade 12, spring
Pay the rest without draining your savings
Once offers are in, we build a plan for remaining costs that keeps your family's finances and your student's debt in check.
- Out-of-pocket cost planning
- Smarter borrowing, if borrowing is needed
- A four-year view, not just year one
Why plan
Same student. Two outcomes.
Switch between the two to see what changes when your family has a plan.
College list
Big names picked from rankingsBalanced list matched to goals and budget
Applications
Essays rushed the week of the deadlineA clear story, drafted months ahead
Financial aid
Forms filed late, with errorsFiled early, reviewed, and accurate
Offers
First offer accepted as finalOffers compared and appealed
Paying the rest
Savings drained, loans maxed outA funding plan that protects your future
Who we serve
For families, and the advisors who serve them.
Your student's whole plan, in one place.
Every timeline, document, and next step, with a counselor you can reach directly.
- Personal planning timeline
- Application and aid checklists
- Direct line to your counselor
Add college planning to your practice.
Help clients with one of their biggest expenses, backed by our materials and support.
- Presentation and marketing kits
- Client progress tracking
- Procedures and reporting
Can we qualify for aid if we earn a good income?
Often, yes. Aid depends on much more than income: family size, how many children are in college, assets, and each school's own policies. Many colleges also give merit scholarships that have nothing to do with income.
When should we start planning?
Ideally in 9th or 10th grade, because aid looks back at earlier tax years and course choices shape admissions. It's never too late, though. We also work with seniors in the middle of applications.
Do you only help students aiming for top-ranked schools?
No. We help every student find schools that fit their goals, strengths, and budget, from community college transfer paths to highly selective universities.
Is a private college always more expensive than a public one?
Not always. Some private colleges offer grants large enough to bring their real cost close to, or below, a public university. Comparing actual offers is the only way to know.
What happens in the free strategy session?
We talk through your student's goals and your family's situation, point out the opportunities and risks we see, and explain how we could help. It's free, with no obligation.
Free strategy session
Stop overpaying. Start with a plan.
A 30-minute conversation about your student's goals and your family's finances. You'll leave with a clearer picture, whether or not you work with us.
- Tell us about your studentTakes under a minute.
- We email you to pick a timeWithin one business day.
- Get your personal strategyAdmissions and funding, together.