How Families Actually Pay for College

The sticker price is rarely what a family pays, but figuring out the real number can feel impossible. This session explains how colleges build financial aid offers, what the FAFSA does, how merit scholarships work, and why two schools with the same price tag can cost your family very different amounts. You'll leave knowing how to use net price calculators, which deadlines matter most, and what questions to ask before you commit to a school.