Save up to $25,000 a year on college with Merit Aid.
Learn how from New York Times money columnist Ron Lieber.
Financial aid offers are arriving — and the numbers often don’t tell the full story. Before you accept any college offer, make sure you understand what you’re actually being asked to pay. Colleges don’t always start with their best offer. They start with the offer they believe a family will accept. Understanding Merit Aid shows you how to evaluate your offers, compare schools clearly, and decide what to do next.
This course is for families who:
- Are comparing college offers right now
- Want to understand what those offers really mean
- Want to make the best financial decision before committing
Real Results
“Thank you! The most useful and practical advice we received as part of the college application process. I learned the ins and outs of the whole Merit Aid system (including how the schools use big data and the fact you need to work schools off one another). We wound up saving over $20k per year after taking the course.”
– Karen W., Connecticut parent, Class of 2028
What you’ll get in Ron’s Merit Aid course
Insider access from the expert
New York Times money columnist Ron Lieber shares exclusive, proven strategies to cut tuition costs with merit scholarships and awards—distilled from his years of research, reporting, and direct conversations with admissions leaders.
Evaluate your offers
Colleges use data, enrollment targets, and competitive positioning to decide how much to offer each student. Decode award letters when they arrive, and successfully ask for more Merit Aid.
Everything you need
Updated for 2026, Ron’s course includes 2+ hours of searchable video lessons in bite-size segments, so it’s easy to come back and find what you need any time during the application and decision process. Plus, you’ll get additional critical time and money-saving insider stats, links and resources.