Scoring the Most Financial Aid for College w/ Phillip Levine #1202

The economics of higher education are pretty messed up and colleges know it. Sure, we're sometimes our own worst enemies when it comes to spending. But the pricing system itself seems almost designed to confuse: opaque, inconsistent, and nearly impossible to decode from the outside. Which means there's real money on the table for families who take the time to learn how admissions and financial aid actually work… and which hoops are worth jumping through and which aren't. Get fluent in this system, and you could save yourself tens of thousands of dollars. Stay in the dark, and you're leaving that money on the table. We're joined by Phillip Levine, an economist and professor who's spent his career studying education finance and his new book, Hidden Tuition, pulls back the curtain on how the system really works, and what families can do to navigate it on their own terms. Today we discuss:

• Differences between sticker price and actual cost
• Enrollment trends and their impact on college prices
• Understanding the FAFSA and need-based aid
• Merit aid and how colleges use discounts
• Negotiating financial aid offers
• Tools and resources for estimating college costs
• The role of 529 plans and early savings
• Manipulating finances to maximize aid
• And much more!

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