SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT TO AVOID OVERPAYING FOR COLLEGE
Do you Want To Understand How College Funding Really Works And Avoid Overpaying For College?
Learn the proven framework I've used to help more than 500 families reduce the cost of college without sacrificing your student's college options.
Here are some Examples of real families i've helped in the Past
Tens of thousand in money saved using the same information and college funding strategies i teach in My comprehensive course: Maximize Aid, Minimize Cost: The Parent Playbook
Contractor Father, Part-time Nurse mother, sent their daughter to:
YALE
Annual Sticker Price
$74,180/year
⬇
$7,249/year
(Net Cost after aid)
Lawyer, father of 3, sent his first daughter to:
PRINCETON
Annual Sticker Price
$75,000
⬇
$19,500/year
(Net Cost after aid)
An engineer father and stay at home mother sent their daughter to:
MIT
Annual Sticker Price
$83,000/year
⬇
$17,300/year
(Net Cost after aid)
Psychologist, single mother, sent her daughter to:
STANFORD
Annual Sticker Price
$73,000/year
⬇
$34,536/year
(Net Cost after aid)
These families didn't simply hope for more financial aid—they planned strategically years before their students applied to college.
Every family's financial situation is unique. Results vary based on income, assets, college selection, academic profile, and planning timeline.
I created this course: Maximize Aid, Minimize Cost: The Parent Playbook —
a self-paced online course to give parents the knowledge, tools, and strategies to confidently navigate college funding and financial aid.
For only $597, you'll receive access to this course and future updates until your student begins college so you can revisit the lessons whenever you need them as your family moves through the college planning process.
It's NOT About...
🚫 Assuming you make too much money to qualify for any financial aid
🚫 Watching your student get into their dream school, then feeling sick when the financial aid letter arrives
🚫 Hoping for the best and figuring out the financial aid forms at the last minute
It's About Knowing exactly where you stand and having a strategic plan to help your student attend a college that's the right fit academically, socially, and financially, while maximizing available financial aid opportunities and avoiding costly mistakes.
For Over 13 Years, Lea Cruz Has Helped Hundreds of Families Navigate College Funding With Confidence.
The strategies and concepts inside Maximize Aid, Minimize Cost are based on more than 13 years of helping families navigate college admissions, financial aid, and college funding decisions.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0
Yelp Rating
13+ Years Experience
Hundreds of Families Helped
"Lea provided practical, realistic advice and tips that made the entire college process feel much less overwhelming and more manageable. She offered information and guidance that felt accessible and actionable for our family."
— Daphne F., Laguna Niguel, CA
"Lea did an amazing job explaining deadlines, how FAFSA works, and helping us understand our options. What once felt overwhelming suddenly made sense."
— Rochelle L., San Jose, CA
"Lea's knowledge and caring approach helped our family navigate both the college application and financial planning process with confidence."
— Rosie G., La Palma, CA
Why I Created Maximize Aid, Minimize Cost
After helping families navigate college funding for more than 13 years, I noticed the same challenges come up over and over again.
Many parents assumed they made too much money to qualify for financial aid.
Others crossed colleges off their list simply because of the sticker price.
And many didn't start planning until senior year, when some of the biggest opportunities to maximize aid and minimize costs had already passed.
At the same time, I met many families who wanted guidance but couldn't justify spending thousands of dollars on one-on-one college funding planning.
Others were perfectly capable of doing much of the work themselves; they simply needed someone to show them what information mattered, where to find it, and how to put it all together.
That's when I realized there needed to be a more affordable way to help more families.
So I took the same concepts, strategies, and lessons I've used to help hundreds of families and organized them into a simple, step-by-step framework that parents can work through at their own pace.
And I'm excited to finally make that available to families everywhere.
Who Is This Course Designed For?
✅ Parents of 9th, 10th, or 11th graders who want to get ahead of the college cost curve before it's too late.
✅ Families who assume they make "too much" to qualify for financial aid.
✅ Parents who feel overwhelmed by FAFSA, CSS Profile, grants, scholarships, and financial aid jargon.
✅ Families who want a strategic, financially smart college list; not just a list of dream schools.
✅ Parents who want expert college funding guidance without spending thousands on private consulting.
✅ Grandparents who want to help plan strategically for a grandchild's college education.
In Maximize Aid, Minimize Cost: The Parent Playbook, my goal is to help you understand how college funding really works so you can make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
So that your family can pursue colleges that are the right fit academically, personally, and financially.
Here's What You Can Expect After Going Through Maximize Aid, Minimize Cost:
Understand how financial aid is actually calculated: Learn what colleges look at, what impacts aid eligibility, and why your Student Aid Index is only part of the story.
Know where your family stands before admissions decisions arrive: No more guessing whether a college is affordable or assuming you won't qualify for aid.
Build a financially smart college list.: Evaluate colleges based on affordability, aid generosity, merit opportunities, and return on investment—not just rankings or prestige.
Feel confident navigating FAFSA, CSS Profile, and financial aid terminology.: Understand the forms, deadlines, and requirements before they become stressful last-minute decisions.
Identify opportunities to maximize available financial assistance: Learn strategies that may help your family qualify for more federal, state, and college need-based & merit aid.
Make college funding decisions with confidence: Instead of feeling overwhelmed or uncertain, you'll have a roadmap for your family's college planning journey.
Ready To Stop Guessing And Start Planning With Confidence?
Inside Maximize Aid, Minimize Cost: The Parent Playbook
I'll guide you through every stage of the college funding journey so you can make informed decisions with confidence.
MODULE ONE
The College Cost Reality Check
Many families make college decisions based on sticker price alone, and sometimes cross schools off their list far too early.
This module will help you look beyond published tuition costs so you can make more informed decisions about affordability and opportunity.
You'll Discover:
• Why college sticker price rarely tells the full story
• Why some schools aren't as expensive as they first appear
• A smarter way to evaluate college costs before applications are submitted
Estimated Value: $197
MODULE TWO
How Financial Aid Really Works
Many families either assume they won't qualify for aid or misunderstand how colleges evaluate financial need.
This module gives you the foundation needed to make informed financial aid decisions and avoid costly assumptions throughout the college process.
You'll Discover:
• Why many families misunderstand their aid eligibility
• The factors colleges consider when evaluating financial need
• Common misconceptions that can lead to costly assumptions
Estimated Value: $297
MODULE THREE
Strategic Financial Positioning: Maximizing Need-Based Aid Opportunities
Some of the biggest opportunities in college funding happen long before senior year begins.
This module will help families understand why early planning can create options that simply aren't available later.
You'll Discover:
• Why timing can be just as important as strategy
• Opportunities many families don't discover until it's too late to act
• How early decisions can impact future affordability
Estimated Value: $397
MODULE FOUR
Merit Aid Scholarships & Positioning Strategy
Learn how to think more strategically about merit opportunities so your student isn't leaving potential funding opportunities unexplored.
You'll Discover:
• What colleges often value beyond academics alone
• Why some students receive significantly more merit aid than others
• Opportunities families often overlook long before applications are submitted
Estimated Value: $197
MODULE FIVE
Choosing Colleges That Make Financial Sense
The best college list isn't just academically balanced — it's financially balanced as well.
This module helps families evaluate colleges through both an admissions and affordability lens.
You'll Discover:
• How to identify colleges that may offer more generous financial opportunities
• Why affordability should be part of every college conversation
• How to avoid costly surprises after acceptance letters arrive
Estimated Value: $297
MODULE SIX
Financial Aid Forms, Offers, and Appeals
Navigate FAFSA, CSS Profile, award letters, and appeals with greater confidence and less stress.
You'll Discover:
• The major financial aid milestones families should prepare for
• Common mistakes that can create unnecessary delays, confusion, or missed opportunities
• How to approach financial aid season with greater confidence
Estimated Value: $297
AND OF COURSE…
I HAVE SOME EXTRA SPECIAL BONUSES FOR YOU WORTH OVER $200
BONUS ONE
1-Hour College Funding Strategy Consultation
A private consultation with Lea Cruz to answer your questions from the course and also discuss your financial unique sitution, college list, and possible opportunities to improve your financial aid outcomes.
($75 value)
BONUS TWO
Downloadable Worksheet and Guides
Get practical tools with step-by-step guide designed to help you organized, compare your options, and make confident, cost-saving decisions.
($97 Value)
Questions? I'm Here To Help!
Here are some frequently asked questions that might help you too.
FAQ #1 Is this only for high-income families?
Answer: Not at all. This course is built for middle-to upper-middle income families-the group most likely to wrongly assume they don't qualify for any aid at all.
FAQ #2 My child is only a freshman - is it too early?
Answer: This is actually the ideal time to start. The earlier you understand your numbers and your options, the more strategies are available to you before your student's base year.
FAQ #3 My child is already a junior - is it too late?
Answer: Absolutely not. While some opportunities are only available with earlier planning, there are still meaningful strategies, decisions, and positioning opportunities that can make a difference. The sooner you start from here, the more options you'll have.
FAQ #4 How is this course delivered?
Answer: After purchase, you'll receive an email with instructions to set up your login credentials for the Members Area. The course is fully digital and self-paced, allowing you to work through the lessons whenever it fits your schedule.
FAQ #5 What if I have questions specific to my situation?
Answer: That's exactly why the course includes a 1-hour consultation with Lea Cruz. As you work through the lessons, write down your questions so you can use your consultation time to discuss your family's specific situation and next steps.
FAQ #6 Will I have access to future updates?
Answer: Yes. You'll continue to receive course updates and access until your student begins college, so you'll always have access to the most current information and strategies throughout your planning journey.
FAQ #7 Is this a substitute for one-on-one college planning?
Answer: For many families, this course provides all the guidance they need to make more informed college funding decisions on their own. Families with more complex situations may choose additional one-on-one support, but many parents find the course and consultation provide exactly what they need.
FAQ #8 What if my student changes their college list or plans?
Answer: That's completely normal. One of the advantages of this course is that you'll continue to have access until your student begins college, allowing you to revisit lessons and adjust your strategy as circumstances, college lists, and goals evolve over time.
Purchase Maximize Aid, Minimize Costs: Parent Playbook Today, with access Until Your Child starts college,
For Only $597!
✔ One-Time Payment
✔ Immediate Access
✔ Updates Included Until Your Student Starts College
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