Which schools could cost less?
We compare published prices and scholarship rules for your student.
See which colleges could cost your family less.
We check your schools and give you a short, ranked money plan.
One list. Three clear answers.
No spreadsheets. No special terms to learn.
What could change the bill?
We flag deadlines, grade rules, and aid that may cancel other aid.
What should we do next?
We tell you what to do first and what to skip, with dates and links.
A playbook you can actually read.
It starts with the best place to look, the likely price, what could change it, and the next deadline.
Open the full sample
You send the list. We do the digging.
749 college policies read and counting.
Tell us about your student
Add GPA, test scores or test-optional status, home state, and up to 10 schools.
We check the school websites
We read the scholarship amounts, deadlines, renewal rules, and fine print.
Open your playbook
Get one ranked plan in under 10 minutes after you finish the intake.
“This playbook made the process much more manageable and gave us confidence that we weren't overlooking great opportunities.”
“MeritPlaybook provided a great summary of costs, deadlines, and selection risks for 9 universities”
Get the money plan.Skip the research project.
Every college publishes merit aid differently. Comparing schools yourself means finding the right policies, reading the tables and fine print, doing the math, and turning unlike information into a fair comparison.
01
DIY research
Do it yourself
$0plus your time
Find each school’s merit tables, policies, deadlines, and fine print
Work out what the different rules mean for your student
Do the math and turn unlike information into a fair comparison
Best if you have time to verify every detail yourself.
The focused answer
MeritPlaybook
$79$99
One personalized playbook. One-time purchase. No subscription.
We find and interpret the school-specific rules
We calculate what they mean for your student
You get one source-linked, apples-to-apples ranked plan
Delivered in under 10 minutes after intake30-day money-back guarantee. Not happy for any reason? Request a full refund within 30 days, no questions asked.
See a real sample first03
Full-service consultant
Ongoing human help
Broader, one-to-one support
$2,000+published packages
A different, broader service for families who want support across the full admissions process.
One-to-one meetings and personal guidance
Application, essay, and admissions strategy
Broader help throughout the college process
Best if you want ongoing, hands-on guidance.
How we framed consultant pricing
Representative college admissions consulting packages published in August 2026 begin around $2,000 and extend above $5,000. Services and prices vary. Examples: University College Advisors, College Admissions Coaching, and Right Fit College Admissions.
Not ready today? We'll email you a code to save on your playbook whenever you're ready.
A few common questions.
What information do I need?
Your student's GPA, test scores or test-optional status, home state, and a list of up to 10 colleges. We do not ask for tax forms or a Social Security number.
Can I check the research?
Yes. Every important number, deadline, and rule includes a link to the college's own website.
Is this only about scholarships?
No. The playbook also compares estimated yearly costs, important deadlines, renewal rules, and whether one award may reduce another.
What if my student's scores change?
Buy now and refresh later. If your student's test scores change after purchase, we'll re-run your playbook against the new stats for free.