College Affordable

04/30/2026

Think it is too early to start planning for college?
It is not.

As the school year comes to a close, many students begin thinking about what comes next. Starting early allows families to approach the process with clarity, not urgency.

Understanding cost, exploring options, and building a thoughtful plan early on can shape better outcomes later.

Our upcoming webinar, Setting the Stage: Freshman and Sophomore Game Plan, focuses on how to begin this process with intention.

Join us on May 12.

Registration link in bio.

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04/22/2026

Our next webinar focuses on one of the most overlooked parts of the college process: starting early!

Setting the Stage: Freshman and Sophomore Game Plan walks families through how to think about college costs, planning, and decision making before the process feels urgent.

The earlier you start, the more options you have.

Join us May 12. Registration link in bio.

04/15/2026

Meet the Team Tuesday is continuing its fun shift. We are turning to the intern crew who supported College Affordable this past summer and throughout the year.

Meet Charlie! He is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison double majoring in Economics and Data Science. As part of his work with College Affordable, Charlie has been supporting the organization's data management and fundraising infrastructure. He worked with user and profile data to create a unified database tracking key engagement metrics and wrote scripts to identify College Affordable's most engaged users for outreach. Charlie has also conducted in-depth research on donation platforms and donor-advised fund programs to help College Affordable expand its fundraising reach and connect with new donors.

Thank you, Charlie, for your thoughtful work and contributions to College Affordable!

04/13/2026

We are grateful to work alongside St. Bernard’s in supporting students and families through the college process!

Access to clear financial guidance can make a significant difference in how families approach college decisions. Partnerships like this help ensure students are not only prepared academically, but also equipped to navigate the financial side with confidence.

Proud to be part of this work together!

04/09/2026

We are incredibly grateful to the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts for their transformative $500,000 investment in expanding free financial aid support for students across North Central Massachusetts.

This five-year commitment is more than funding—it’s a powerful statement that every student deserves access to clear, expert guidance on how to afford college. Through this partnership, thousands of students and families will gain the tools, knowledge, and confidence needed to navigate the financial aid process and unlock more affordable pathways to higher education.

At a time when college affordability remains one of the greatest barriers to opportunity, this leadership and vision will have a lasting impact across the region.

We are proud to partner in this work and deeply thankful for the Foundation’s commitment to equity, access, and student success.

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Big News for North Central Massachusetts Students!

The Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts is investing $500,000 over five years to expand free financial aid counsel through a new partnership with nonprofit College Affordable. This initiative will bring expert guidance to every high school in the region, helping students and families navigate the financial aid process and unlock more affordable pathways to higher education. We’re the first region in the state to offer this!

Learn More: https://cfncm.org/news/community-foundation-commits-500-000-to-expand-free-financial-aid-support-for-north-central-massachusetts-students

03/31/2026

Testimonial Tuesday looks a bit different this week!

For one family, the college process unfolded alongside a major and unexpected life transition. With the right guidance, they were able to navigate both the emotional and financial complexities of the moment and find a path forward.

At College Affordable, we know that every student’s situation extends beyond what can be captured in an application or financial aid form.
Stories like this remind us why personalized support matters.

Read the full story and more from this issue through the link in our bio.

03/26/2026

Our latest newsletter is out!
This past year, we have continued to expand our reach with new school partnerships, over 2,500 students supported, and more than 100 workshops delivered. We also recently received a $500,000 multi year grant to help grow this work even further.

There is much more to share.

Read the full newsletter through the link in our bio, or stay tuned. We will be highlighting more from this issue soon, including a powerful student story and an update on a long standing partnership that continues to grow.

03/22/2026

Last week marked 3 years since College Affordable received its 501(c) (3) designation.
In that time, a small and dedicated team, alongside committed volunteers, school counselors, partners, and donors, has helped thousands of families navigate the cost of college through education and personalized support.

The impact is real. More grants and scholarships, less debt, and more informed decisions. For many students, this has been life changing.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this work over the past three years.

There are still many families who could benefit from this kind of guidance. We have proven the model and are continuing to build toward a broader and more lasting impact.

Thank you for being part of this.

03/13/2026

We are beginning to share moments from our documentary about the students and families behind this work.

First, meet Dom, a graduate of Leominster High School.

When Dom was applying to college, his dream school, Northeastern, felt financially out of reach. With support from College Affordable, errors in his financial aid forms were identified, an appeal was submitted, and he ultimately secured $40,000 more in aid.

Today, Dom is pursuing a PhD at Stanford.

Stories like Dom’s remind us what access to clear guidance and equitable support can make possible.

This is what equity in education looks like.

03/03/2026

File every year. Review every year. Reevaluate every year.

College Affordable works with families not just once, but throughout the college journey. Aid is not static, and neither is your eligibility.

Financial aid eligibility is recalculated annually. Income shifts. Family circumstances change. Schools introduce new grants. States adjust funding. Even small changes can affect the outcome.
If you skip the FAFSA, you remove yourself from consideration entirely.

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