Your child deserves
college. Not debt.
We help Texas families cut through the confusion of college costs, financial aid, and scholarships — so your student thrives without burdening your family for decades.
for 4 years
Ryan Thomson on
College Preparation
Our founder Ryan Thomson was interviewed on Fox 7 News on September 17th, 2017 to discuss how families can best prepare and plan ahead for college costs.
Interviewed by Raeann Christensen.
Attend Our Next Workshop
tuition rise
since 1990
Our Mission
Making college a reality
for every student.
Our mission is to make going to college a reality for any student. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to know all your options.
Our goal is to show families how to take the guesswork out of planning and paying for college — making sure it is as easy and affordable a process as possible.
Preparing for college should begin at birth — and no later than January of your student's sophomore year of high school.
The Facts
Numbers every Texas
family should know.
saved for college 6/10
Average inflation rate on everyday goods since 2000.
How fast college costs have climbed since 2000 — double the inflation rate.
Average annual tuition increase since 1990. Compounding for over 30 years.
Largest single-year jump on record — between 2011–12 and 2012–13.
3 in 10 families have savings — but less than $15,000 for all their children combined.
When planning should ideally start — at the very latest, by sophomore year January.
Free Monthly Events
College Planning
Workshops
Each month, College Funding Specialists provides free, informative workshops around Austin and surrounding areas — introducing families to the complete college planning and financial aid process.
- Understanding the full financial aid timeline
- FAFSA & CSS Profile strategy
- Reducing your Expected Family Contribution
- Scholarships & grants — the real picture
- How to evaluate your college list financially
What Families Say
Real results for
real Texas families
We recommend Ryan to all our friends and acquaintances. He helped my daughter's dream become a reality — we could never have done this without his help.
Ryan and College Funding Specialists provide an excellent service. CFS is assisting me with both of my daughters — I can't imagine funding college without them.
The search for the right college for your child is a complex and daunting task. Ryan simplified every step — from funding to selecting the perfect college fit.
Don't wait until senior year.
The best time to plan was years ago. The second best time is right now.