Earlier this spring, financial aid expert Mark Salisbury joined us for a series of virtual sessions on college costs. In case you missed it, you can listen to all three sessions with the co-founder and CEO of TuitionFit and founder and executive director of Pathways Planning & Insights. An advocate for transparency in U.S. higher education costs, Mark will help you feel confident guiding your students through the college decision process.

The Real Truth About College Pricing

Mark explains how college pricing actually works behind the scenes. He debunks four common myths: that all colleges are too expensive, that in-state public universities are always the cheapest option, that net price figures are entirely accurate, and that financial aid is a limited resource.

View transcript and listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

The Real Truth About the Financial Aid System

Mark pulls back the curtain on how the financial aid system really works and why it looks nothing like what most families expect. From the FAFSA to the CSS Profile, he explains how colleges use the data families voluntarily provide not to help them afford school, but to calculate the minimum discount needed to get them to enroll. 

View the transcript and listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

The Real Truth About Educational ROI After High School

Mark makes the case that ROI genuinely matters, then exposes the shaky data behind popular ROI rankings. He reframes ROI through a "play to keep playing" lens borrowed from Simon Sinek, arguing that the real return is whether an educational investment expands or constrains a student's future options.

View the transcript and listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

About the Author

Hannah Rael

As NGPF's Marketing Communications Manager, Hannah (she/her) helps spread the word about NGPF's mission to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans.