FAQ’s

According to College Board, for the 2024-2025 academic year, the average price of tuition and fees came to: $43,350 at private colleges, $11,610 at public colleges (in-state residents), and $30,780 at public colleges (out-of-state residents); this figure does not include Room and Board. Fees may support services such as the library, campus transportation, student government, and athletic facilities. Fees charged can also vary widely from college to college. In addition to tuition and fees, there are additional costs to the student for housing, food, books, and supplies.

Regarding the College Planning process, our comprehensive program encompasses all our services. Think of it as having a source for all your questions and concerns, while keeping students and parents on track. We are available Monday – Friday and can be reached by email or phone. Inquiries are responded to promptly, and calls are answered by our knowledgeable KJM Service Team staff.

On the financial side, we can determine how much money the federal government believes you can afford to pay for your student’s first year of college. In many cases the number does not seem realistic, but we can discuss ways of reducing your out-of-pocket costs, while increasing the financial aid you may receive. Once the financial aid awards are received by the student, we evaluate them and discuss the possibility of appealing an offer. Finally, we work with you in developing a plan to pay for a large portion, if not all, of the college expenses.

There are many tasks we can do and ways we can assist! First, we can evaluate your student by utilizing a comprehensive Student Assessment program so they have the best chance to get into the right college and graduate on time. Second, we will bring the student up to speed very quickly to meet application deadlines and accomplish the tasks needed to reach the finish line of the college application process. Third, we can assist the parents to formulate a plan to pay for college. Finally, if a college considers an appeal, we will discuss how to navigate that process and discuss if it will have a beneficial outcome.

Starting with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, money contributed to a 401K or 403B will not be used in the FAFSA calculation. However, dollars contributed to an IRA or SEP (as indicated on your federal tax return) will be added into the calculation and may negatively impact your need-based aid.

We recommend starting as soon as possible to achieve maximum results. Many families come to us for a complimentary initial consultation and say that they wish they spoke with us sooner. Ideally, the student needs runway ahead of them to accomplish all the tasks. For example, resume development begins as early as 9^th grade, and SAT/ACT prep begins the summer prior to junior year. These are just two examples of tasks that need to be discussed and prioritized well before the student begins their application process. We can address this with you during your complimentary consultation. Having a timeline in place reduces stress and keeps the student focused on the mission and goals.

Absolutely! Graduation rates at four-year colleges are approaching 6 years on average. We can assist your student in choosing the right schools to apply to and graduating on time; this can be the most cost-effective tool of your planning! Also, do not assume that you are a family that earns or has too much money to receive need-based aid; let us evaluate your specific situation. At many colleges, a FAFSA must be filed for the student to be in the applicant pool for freshman year scholarships, so even if your child is not a straight A student, there may be scholarship dollars (merit-based aid) available to them based on their academics.

Yes, that is true! In fact, a significant number of individuals tend to make errors on these forms. These errors can cause delays in getting aid offers processed and/or limit the awards received. Not only are we knowledgeable about the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and IDOC, we are mindful of financial aid deadlines to ensure the timely submission of documents.

In many cases, this is a big topic of conversation. The answer is that some colleges will look at the equity in your home and others will not. We can guide you as to which schools will include the home as an asset.

The planning process is much more affordable than you may think. In most cases, the work we do pays for itself many times over. Our plans are customized, and each case is evaluated on an individual basis. The first step is to attend a free College Planning presentation/workshop where you can decide if working with a professional is right for you. As always, feel free to schedule a no-cost, complimentary consultation, even if you have not attended a workshop. We’ll walk you through the timeline and explain the process. We’ll conclude by discussing your family’s specific situation, and the cost associated with our services. We look forward to meeting you at our New Jersey location or virtually, via zoom!