Hi, I'm Lea Cruz, founder of Digital College Planner and Excel College Planning.

I'm a college planning strategist, business owner, and parent of three who has spent more than 13 years helping families make smarter college decisions.

My mission is to help families reduce college costs through early planning, smart financial strategies, and informed college decisions.

Like many parents, I began researching the college admissions and financial aid process because I wanted to make the best decisions for my own children. The more I learned, the more I realized how confusing—and expensive—the process can be without a clear plan. That passion eventually became my life's work.

Today, I've helped hundreds of families navigate college admissions, financial aid, and college affordability. Whether a family qualifies for need-based aid, is searching for merit scholarships, or simply wants to make smarter financial decisions, my goal is always the same—to help families pay less and plan with confidence.

My approach goes beyond simply completing financial aid forms. I help families understand how college costs really work so they can make informed decisions years before applications are submitted.

With proper strategies and planning, I've helped families send their students to universities such as Yale, MIT, Stanford, Princeton and other highly selective colleges—often at costs comparable to what they expected to pay for a public university through strategic planning.

Whether you're just getting started or looking for advanced college funding strategies, my goal is to give your family the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions every step of the way.