Earn College Cash By Using the "Star Power Approach"

Students from poor and wealthy backgrounds have, in theory, little trouble paying for college. But everyone else? Well, it gets complicated—and I have a hack for you.

If you’re a good student from the middle class—defined by the Pew Research Center in 2018 as families earning $48,500 to $145,500—and you want a romantic four-year college experience complete with a quad and Greek life, consider what I called the “Star Power Approach.”

Those with mostly As and some Bs can shop for colleges where they’re at the high end—or exceed—the school’s average metrics. Not only do you have a great shot at getting in, but your profile with likely trigger a tuition discount. In addition, you could be eligible to apply for scholarships.

Let’s look at what might happen for you at the University of Tulsa, a lovely private 3,900-student liberal arts school with an emphasis on STEM, undergraduate research and workplace experiences.

No matter your zip code, the annual tuition is the same: $42,723. Room and board? Another $11,424.

Seems pricey, right?

Say that you’re interested in cybersecurity and that your portfolio (grades and test scores) is at the high end of their admitted cohort—or exceeds it. Tulsa is going to be very interested in you. After all, they’re one of only 20 schools in the nation that train America’s Cyber Corps, the first line of defense against computer hackers and terrorists.

Add into the equation that you’re female. Another plus. Their campus is majority male and they’d like more ladies.

Say you graduated from a high school in Connecticut. Ohh. Now things are getting really interesting: Tulsa mostly draws from the South and Midwest. They’d love to have your license plate parked in their lot. You see, people raised in different areas of the country add depth and complexity to classroom discussions. This is key at a school where classes average 20 students and rely on discussion.

What if your family tree includes people who are Black and indigenous? Another win for a school that appreciates diversity.

Add to this that you’re a STEM kid who writes well. You’ll leave them swooning.

Mind you, I don’t work in the admissions department at the University of Tulsa but my gut instinct after guiding 470 students through this process is that if you match my description above, you’ll be pretty happy with your financial aid package. Attending a private college may even be cheaper than going to a public one in your home state.

Moreover, even if you only meet one of the qualities above—your grades and test scores are above average metrics at your schools—you can pull down substantial cash.

Here’s the deal: Most of America’s colleges don’t have hordes of kids banging on their doors. They need to fill seats. In addition, recruiting big brains boosts their standing in the national conversation, which is perpetuated by media organizations that rate schools. Therefore, they’re willing to discount their tuition to get you to go to their school.

Lesson: If you’re bringing substantial grades and lively test scores to the party but have only a small cash reserve and are adverse to taking out loans, look for schools that deem you a star. I think you’ll be one at places like University of Tulsa