SAT Prep = MONEY MONEY MONEY

The Real Cost of Private College for Connecticut Shoreline Families

Some private colleges now approach $300,000 for four years, including tuition, housing, and fees. Even in affluent shoreline communities, that number forces families to reassess assumptions about affordability.

Why Most Shoreline Families Do Not Qualify for Need-Based Aid

In my work with families in throughout Shoreline, CT, I often speak with parents socially and professionally about the financial realities of college. Many are surprised to learn that need-based financial aid is unlikely for most households in towns such as:

• Branford

• Guilford

• Madison

• Old Saybrook

• Essex

• Old Lyme

• East Lyme

These areas have significantly higher household incomes than the national average. The median U.S. household income is approximately $51,000, but most shoreline families earn more than double that. Parents often tell me—in confidential college-counseling discussions—that they “just cover their bills,” yet their incomes typically fall well above $100,000. From the perspective of federal and institutional aid formulas, these earnings place them far closer to the top income brackets than they may realize.

My opinion: this mismatch between felt affordability and formula-based calculations is one of the greatest frustrations for Connecticut families planning for college.

Where Merit Aid Becomes Critical

The encouraging news is that merit scholarships play a major role for students from higher-income households. Colleges award these funds to attract strong applicants, and the most consistent predictor of large merit awards continues to be high SAT performance.

When students receive structured preparation and sustained practice, they place themselves in the strongest position to secure tens of thousands of dollars per year in merit money. In my view, for most shoreline families, developing competitive SAT scores is the most reliable way to reduce the true cost of college.

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