You’ve taken the first step to spending less for college. As you navigate our site, please answer questions as the student. Also, when answering parent questions, your parent is the one you've lived with the most in the past year. You may think some of the questions are weird. We agree, but this is how the US Department of Education asks questions.
Are your biological parents married to each other?
Yes
No
Do they live together?
Yes
No
Do you live with one more than the other?
Yes
No
Could you?
Yes
No
Could you if it meant a boatload more money for college?
Yes
No
Based on your answers, it looks like you are in great shape and ready to file the FAFSA.
One significant way to spend less is to limit time in college. One way to do that is to decide on your major and stick to it. Your job as a student is to get it done quickly, not changing majors.
Get in, get out, get on with it. To help you do that, here's a tool to zero in on the right career, major, and college.
If you'd like to calculate your Expected Family Contribution, what colleges expect your family to pay, click below. Please email or call if we can help.
Career Planning
Get EFC
Does that parent make more money than the other?
Yes
No
Do either of your parents own a business?
Yes
No
If your family could get more aid, could & would you live with the other parent?
Yes
No
Do your parents have assets outside retirement plans totalling more than $25,000?
Yes
No
Are students assets more than $1,000?
Yes
No
Are sibling Assets more than $1,000?
Yes
No
Will anyone else help fund college expenses?
Yes
No
Do you just want some help figuring this all out?
Yes
No
Does that biz have less than 100 employees?
Yes
No
Do your parents have a controlling interest in the business?
Yes
No
Planning and paying for college is hard
Our mission is to make this journey easier, whether or not your family is eligible for aid. We've spent years learning about the financial aid system and understanding how families can pay less for college.
By completing this secure page, you will begin the process of paying less. This first step, finding out how much colleges expect you to pay, is something you should do early. Knowing this at any time before college is a key planning step.
You'll need your most recent tax return to complete this worksheet. When you finish, you'll have your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)...one step closer to savings
Get EFC