Mom and daughter with a debt-free degree college plan

Featured in

Thinking About College Costs Is Downright Scary. | Get The Free Guide!

Become a College Money Tips Maverick. We do paying for college differently.

How to get a debt free degree if your child is in high school

Here’s how!

Step 1:

Download our helpful free guide.

Ready to help your child not only find the perfect college fit, but skip lifelong school debt and learn how to pay for college?

(Who wouldn’t want that?)

This free guide will get you started on the right path to how to pay for college tuition, even if your child is in high school right now.

Get the Guide

Step 2:

Book a free discovery call.

Get 1:1 help with your exact struggles with the college process, paying for college, navigating financial aid awards and more! It’s your time to chat about whatever’s bugging you or your child about the process. Come away after our 15-minute meeting with your next concrete step on how to pay for kids’ college.

Book Your 1:1 Meeting



Financial Aid and Scholarships

Colleges are great at saying, “We have hundreds of scholarships available!” But that just provokes more questions: What is need-based financial aid? How do scholarships work?

Ask the Admission Office

The college search process is so exciting! But it can give you a little tummy trouble, too. Here’s everything you need to know about college visits from a parent’s perspective and ways to pay for college.

Build Lasting Relationships

Building lasting relationships is the key to a successful college experience. And it starts the minute your child sets foot on campus. Did you know that building relationships can also impact your college money outcomes?

Hi! I’m Melissa.

My goal is to help you along the college journey with one goal in mind: To smash costs to smithereens.

Let’s go!

I’m a longtime undergraduate admission professional, personal finance writer, editor, wife and parent of two (very!) busy kiddos.

I hatched my site after listening to hundreds of families’ needs and wants. They all have one goal — to match a dream college with an even dreamier price tag. Believe it or not, it’s not a unicorn, pie-in-the-sky, once-in-a-million occurrence.

Your child CAN get a bachelor’s degree without paying for it forever.

I know because I’ve seen it, lived it and watched students paying for college — hundreds of students.

You can be comfortable with college costs.

Let me show you how.

Melissa did a great job working with Ashley. She was detailed with her work and was willing to help Ashley achieve her goals.

Melissa was a listening ear and someone to turn to, and it’s partly due to Melissa’s caring heart that Ashley finished her bachelor’s degree in athletic training.

Melissa’s compassion and detailed work is exceptional. She can work with any family (and any student working toward any goal around the cost of college).

— Beth and Dale Wiersema, Illinois

How to Prepare for Unexpected and Hidden College Costs

College costs don’t stop at tuition, room and board. If your student is just beginning their college journey, you may think you’ve accounted for all your expenses, but surprise costs can creep up and throw your budget off track. From one-time fees to recurring...

Parents: Why Buying Property Near Your Child’s College Could Be a Smart Financial Move

College in 2025 isn’t getting any cheaper. Whatever your goals, it’ll come with a hefty price tag, including housing. Students now face steep monthly rents on top of tuition costs. Add it all up, and the total can feel overwhelming fast. Buying a house for your child...

What to Do When an Emergency Threatens Your Child’s College Fund

Growing a college fund is a huge undertaking. You work hard, save every extra dollar, and you dream about the day you can send your kid off to college without worrying about how you’ll pay for it. You might even be a student trying to save up on your own. ...

What to Do if Your Teen Chooses an Expensive College

Your teen just announced the big decision: they want to attend a college with a jaw-dropping price tag. And you? You’ve run the numbers, and they don’t add up. This is one of the most emotionally complex crossroads in the college search journey — when their dream...

How to Pay for College without the FAFSA: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re the parent of a teenager in high school, you’ve probably already heard of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). But what if you don’t want to disclose your financial information or have doubts about your eligibility? Whatever your...