”Free tuition.” ”No-loan school.” ”Families making under $200,000 pay no more than $20,000.”

These college affordability promises sound incredible—but what do they actually mean for your family?

In this episode of Old College Try, Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough break down the push for greater transparency in higher education, including the College Transparency Act and its goal of helping families understand both the true cost of college and the outcomes they can expect. They also unpack new affordability initiatives from schools like Davidson and Boston University—and explain why families need to read beyond the headline before assuming a college will be affordable.

In this episode, we cover:

🎓 What the College Transparency Act is and why greater transparency matters for families

💰 Why families should look at the four-year cost of college, not just the freshman-year price tag

📊 How expected career outcomes and college costs should factor into your decision

🏫 What ”free tuition” programs may—and may not—actually cover

💵 The difference between tuition, fees, room and board, and the total cost of attendance

🔍 Why income limits aren't the only factor determining whether your family qualifies for these programs

🏦 How your assets can impact eligibility even when your income falls below a school's advertised threshold

📣 Why schools like Davidson and Boston University are introducing new affordability programs

⚠️ What a ”no-loan school” actually means—and why your student can still borrow federal loans

🧠 Why families should always verify what a college will actually cost them before getting emotionally attached

Key Takeaway: Don't make a college decision based on a headline. ”Free tuition,” ”no loans,” and income-based affordability guarantees can be valuable, but the details matter. Look at your family's personalized cost, understand what's actually included, and think about the entire four-year investment before deciding whether a school truly fits your budget.

🎵 Song of the Week:Mrs. Potter's Lullaby by Counting Crows

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