Pay Less for College: The Must-Have Guide to Affording Your Degree (Full Color Tables, Charts, and Graphics)...

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Elizabeth Walter Debra Thro

Pay Less for College

The Must-Have Guide to Affording Your Degree (Full Color Tables, Charts, and Graphics)

Elizabeth Walter, Debra Thro

$55.95 $47.59

Paperback

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English

College Admissions HQ
26 August 2025

Pay Less for College: The Must-Have Guide to Affording Your Degree gives you real financial aid know-how and the power to save thousands on college costs.

This no-nonsense, comprehensive, up-to-date guide:

Strips away the confusion around college costs and financial aid Explains how colleges actually decide what you'll pay, and what you can do about it Shows you how to cut college expenses-both big and small Guides you in creating a personalized, proactive game plan for college financing that fits your family's needs, resources, goals, and values Helps you avoid costly mistakes and unnecessary student debt

The 4th Edition is fully updated to cover the latest and upcoming changes to the FAFSA, PLUS Loans, Pell Grants, and college financial aid policies.

Authors Elizabeth Walter and Debra Thro saw how often families were blindsided by unexpectedly high college bills. They wrote Pay Less for College to give parents and students the strategies, insights, and clarity they need to make informed decisions about how to pay for college. Now in its fourth edition, Pay Less for College continues to cut through the noise, helping families navigate the complexities of college financing with confidence, practicality, and purpose.

Pay Less for College is organized into four parts with focused, easy-to-use chapters.

Part I: College Costs and Financial Aid

The Cost of Attendance, Net Price, and the Student Aid Index (SAI) Where financial aid comes from-and how to get it How colleges build financial aid packages How to accurately estimate your four-year price tag

Part II: How to Pay Less for College

Minimize your SAI Choose the right colleges and apply in ways that increase free money Pick the right application strategy for your goals and budget Cut costs significantly-both big and small

Part III: Planning: Guidance through a family conversation about college costs and what you can afford; Help preparing for unexpected life or financial changes; Turning insights into action

Part IV: Resources and Tools-10 appendices packed with information on specific topics, including in-depth guides to the FAFSA, CSS Profile, SAI, Pell Grant eligibility, and how to navigate financial aid when parents are unmarried, divorced, separated, remarried, or widowed. Also included: Guides to preparing applications that boost your chances of being awarded more grants and scholarships, including how to write standout essays, secure strong recommendation letters, and make your personal outreach most effective

By: Elizabeth Walter, Debra Thro
Imprint: College Admissions HQ
Edition: 4th ed.
Dimensions: Height: 254mm, Width: 203mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 535g
ISBN: 9798999729804
Pages: 266
Publication Date: 26 August 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Elizabeth Walter is an American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Certified College Admissions Specialist. Walter holds a BS in Biology from SUNY Geneseo and a PhD in Experimental Pathology from Case Western Reserve University. Debra Thro is an American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Certified College Admissions Specialist. Thro holds a BA in Communications and Social Science from the University of South Florida.

Reviews for Pay Less for College: The Must-Have Guide to Affording Your Degree (Full Color Tables, Charts, and Graphics)

""Families of college-bound students looking for a clear, comprehensive coverage of all the options and considerations should consider Pay Less for College a 'must have' acquisition. Its outline of various processes and approaches to financial management is clear, versatile, and mines the best of college financial concerns and programs to present strategic insights that parents and students will find essential to the task."" --D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review ""As anyone who has waded through financial aid information knows, it can be complex and confusing. In Pay Less for College, authors Elizabeth Walter and Debra Thro break difficult-to-understand information down and make it easy to digest. I wish this book had been available when I started applying to colleges! It literally would have saved me thousands of dollars. If students and their families read this book and follow its guidance, they could save thousands of dollars on college costs. I highly recommend this book."" --J. Wisinski for Readers' Favorite ★★★★★ ""The wisdom in this book will encourage every reader because the book delivers careful plans for what the title promises, Pay Less for College. I wish I had owned this guide to educate myself on the financial aid process before college visits with my oldest child. (The authors) have laid out the content in an attractive and logical way... and taken the time to expertly help families navigate well what can be a daunting process. Pay Less for College feels like a helpful friend, one with experience and extensive knowledge, taking the overwhelm out of an important part of life.""--H. Mosher, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine ""Great book! A great guide for anyone going into college. I like that it is full of information without being too intense and intimidating. This is something I would have appreciated back when I was going to school."" --Charles Michael Farley, Teen Services Manager, Guthrie Memorial Library ""The info in this book is really strong, and the layout design is appealing, accessible, and well-organized. LOVE the chapter on 'The Family Conversation about Money'-- really insightful and helpful!!"" --S. Richman, Pennsylvania Homeschoolers Accreditation Agency