Sample Playbook: A Brand-Name College Cost Strategy

The bottom line

$18,000–$60,000

Jordan's yearly college bill could land anywhere in here — from UA's best case to PSU's worst. The moves below decide where.

What we found

Every school tells a different financial story. The plays for today move you toward the lowest of these.

Best fit
University of Alabama
$18K–$45KEst. yearly cost
The biggest savings on the list — and you barely have to lift a finger to get them.
Safest backup
Arizona State University
$42K–$53KEst. yearly cost
Less drama than any other school: you know your exact scholarship before you commit a dollar.
Higher risk
Penn State University Park
$50K–$60KEst. yearly cost
A great school, but plan to pay close to sticker — the merit money mostly is not there.

Your dossier

Your real schools, your real stats, a ranked plan in the order that pays off first. Delivered in under 5 minutes.

Source-backed against current school policies. Delivered in under 5 minutes.