It’s not about how much you’ve saved — it’s about which colleges will pay your student to attend.
We’ll help you find them.
Helping families save an average of $84,000 on college by combining expert admissions guidance, financial aid strategies, and smart payment planning.
As a forward thinking, family-owned business since 1980, we’ve helped over 30,000 families save an average of $84,000 on their children’s college education—using a one-of-a-kind strategy you won’t find anywhere else.
By The Numbers:
Average we save families on the cost of a 4YR degree
Students helped
Financial Aid awarded
National Avg time to graduate
National Avg Graduation Rate
Our Graduation Rate
Why Partner with Diversified College Planning?
With the cost of a four-year undergraduate degree now ranging from $100,000 to $380,000, families need more than just a savings plan or test prep—they need a smarter, more comprehensive strategy. While some organizations focus on academic readiness and others on financial planning, very few bridge the gap between getting into college and being able to afford it.
That’s where we come in.
Our holistic, start-to-finish process guides families through every step—from identifying the right-fit schools and navigating admissions to maximizing financial aid and creating a personalized plan to pay for college without going broke! On average, our approach saves families over $84,000 on a four-year education. Consider coming to one of our in person events (or even a virtual event), to learn more!
College funding and traditional financial planning are often treated as the same thing—but they are very different disciplines.
A strong retirement plan does not automatically mean a family is prepared for college costs. In fact, many families discover too late that the way their money is saved can actually reduce financial aid eligibility or limit scholarship opportunities. Most financial advisors are trained to focus on retirement planning and investment management. The college admissions and financial aid system is a separate and highly specialized area that many advisors do not fully understand.
For example:
Do they know what the Student Aid Index (SAI) is and how it affects your financial aid eligibility?
More importantly, do they know legal strategies that can help lower your SAI?
Do they understand how assets and income are treated on FAFSA, CSS Profile, and institutional financial aid forms?
With more than 4,000 universities in the United States, do they know what counts against you—and what does not—within each school’s financial aid formulas?
Have they created a strategy that allows you to pay for college while also protecting certain assets from financial aid calculations when legally possible?
Most advisors simply have not been trained in these areas because college planning requires a completely different skill set.
Beyond understanding the forms themselves, families must also navigate:
FAFSA and CSS Profile filing strategies
Institutional financial aid forms required by many private colleges
Understanding whether a college primarily awards need-based aid, merit-based aid, or both
Financial aid appeals and reconsideration requests
Leveraging competing financial aid offers from multiple schools
Structuring assets in ways that protect aid eligibility when possible
The challenge is that this process changes frequently, and each college may apply its own methodology when awarding institutional aid.
That is why specialized college planning matters.
At the end of the day, getting accepted to a college is only half the equation. The real goal is ensuring that the school your student attends is both the right academic fit and financially sustainable for your family.
Because the truth is simple:
It’s not just about getting in—it’s about making it work, both academically and financially.
Local Highschool Partners
Pillar 1: Academic Alignment
Find where your student is positioned to succeed—not just where they can get accepted.
- Academic fit comes first.
- Success leads to higher graduation rates, better GPAs, stronger internships, and a better college experience.
- The goal is to graduate in four years.
Key Question:
Where will my student thrive academically?
Pillar 2: Recruitment vs. Acceptance
Understand the difference between getting in and being wanted.
- Acceptance is not recruitment.
- Merit aid, honors programs, and special invitations indicate a school is recruiting your student.
- Full-pay acceptance often means you’re filling a seat, not being actively pursued.
Key Question:
Is this college investing in my student or simply admitting them?
Pillar 3: The Business of College Admissions
Every admissions decision is also a business decision.
- Colleges manage tuition revenue, rankings, enrollment, and graduation rates.
- Families should understand the financial incentives behind admissions.
- Make your decision like a business owner, not just an emotional buyer.
Key Question:
Which side of the college’s business model is my family on?
Pillar 4: Find Schools That Pay Your Student
Look for colleges that value your student enough to invest in them.
- Merit aid is a signal of value.
- Schools paying your student are often the schools where they’ll be most successful.
- Don’t chase colleges—find colleges that are chasing your student.
Key Question:
Which schools are willing to invest in my student?
Pillar 5: Graduate on Time
The goal isn’t admission—it’s graduation.
- A four-year graduation saves money and accelerates a student’s career.
- Academic alignment reduces the risk of major changes, academic struggles, and extended time in school.
- Two extra years of college can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Key Question:
Will this school help my student graduate in four years?
Pillar 6: Value Over Prestige
Buy value, not a bumper sticker.
- A recognizable name doesn’t always produce the best outcome.
- Focus on return on investment, career opportunities, and financial freedom.
- The best college is the one that creates the strongest long-term outcome.
Key Question:
Am I buying a brand name or a better future?
Pillar 7: Data Over Emotion
Use facts to drive the decision, not feelings.
- Rankings and reputation shouldn’t outweigh student outcomes.
- Compare graduation rates, merit aid, academic fit, career placement, and total cost.
- The smartest college decision is based on evidence, not emotion.
Key Question:
What does the data tell us, regardless of the school’s name?
Guarantee
We believe in our process so strongly that we guarantee it: if we can’t help your family save at least three times your investment, we’ll refund your money—no questions asked.
Helping Families Overcome Common Dilemmas.
1
I don’t have enough money for college
2
I can only afford an in-state school
3
I don’t want massive debt after college
4
I don’t understand the admissions process
5
I don’t understand the FAFSA/aid process
6
Short-sighted planning (I planned for 4 years, it’s going to be 6)
