The Two Prices for College: Which One Will You Pay?
Most families don’t realize that college has two prices—the one everyone sees, and the one smart, informed families actually pay. If your student is heading to college soon, this is one of the most important financial lessons you’ll learn.
At Diversified College Planning, we help families avoid overpaying by understanding how the college pricing game really works.
Price #1: The Sticker Price
This is the published cost of attendance: tuition, fees, room, board, books, and other expenses. It’s often shockingly high—especially at private colleges.
But here’s the catch: almost no one pays this amount. Colleges use it as a starting point—then discount it based on financial aid and merit.
Price #2: The Net Price
This is what your family actually pays after aid is applied. It varies drastically from family to family, even at the same school. That’s because aid is based on:
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Income and assets
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Family size
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Student achievements
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How well you position yourself during the process
Informed families know how to lower this number—and they do.
Informed vs. Uninformed Buyers
An informed buyer:
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Knows which schools give the most free aid
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Understands how to fill out aid forms correctly
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Uses net price calculators wisely
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Negotiates or appeals aid packages
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Plans early to maximize eligibility
An uninformed buyer:
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Chooses schools based on name or emotion
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Takes the sticker price at face value
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Overlooks aid opportunities
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Misses deadlines
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Overpays by tens of thousands
Make Sure You’re Paying the Right Price
We’ve helped thousands of families pay significantly less than they expected—without sacrificing education quality or draining retirement accounts. It starts with understanding that there are two prices—and choosing the right strategy to pay the lower one.
📞 Let’s build your family’s college funding strategy.
Website: https://diversifiedcollegeplanning.com/contact-us/
Phone: 770-662-8510
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