For many families, shopping for the right college can look a lot like shopping for a new car. Too many get caught up in the style and luxury, and end up overpaying, pushing them into excessive debt.

At, SimpliCollege, we stress the importance of finding a college that is the best social, academic and financial fit for your lifestyle. The first step is becoming aware of the common challenges families tend to face, so we’ve gathered our top five costly college mistakes you can avoid, to help you lower the cost of college:

1. Not negotiating the best financial aid offer.

Did you know that you can negotiate with colleges to get a better price? It is more difficult to negotiate with state colleges, but this is a proven tactic with many private colleges. The key is getting leverage. Having multiple offers from competing colleges gives you the best opportunity for success. 

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2. Failing to...

For many students, the financial aid package, or scholarship money you receive from a college, can make or break the decision to attend that particular school. Before ruling out a private university because of how much they offered, have you ever considered asking for more money?

With the cost of college rising exponentially each year, more families are finding it harder to afford. Colleges have plenty of open seats to fill, making the opportunity for you to appeal and negotiate the price of college even greater.

Does it Work?

Many people are skeptical or scared to appeal and negotiate with colleges, but it’s a proven tactic to unlock those hidden funds that colleges keep stored away. Many parents fear that asking for more money will jeopardize their child’s chance to attend that particular college. Remember that you are the customer, colleges are a business, and they need to enroll students. 

More students are beginning to discover this tactic and finding...