Post by Noodle

A shift is underway in college admissions: price-first estimates instead of sticker shock. Brandeis University is out with one and we're proud to have been a partner in building. Faye, a new online tool developed with Noodle, lets prospective students upload their financial and academic information for a personalized price quote before they apply. Full rollout is planned for the Fall 2027 admissions cycle. Cornell College in Iowa now sends early, non-binding financial aid estimates to prospective students through its Save Your Seat program, reaching them right when they're starting applications or narrowing their list. It's a different experience than the typical net price calculator, which asks students to submit detailed financial information before they see any numbers. In summer 2025, Cornell sent estimates to about 20,000 students. Nearly 20% of the incoming Fall 2026 class committed to Cornell after receiving one. Whitman College took a different approach: an income-based tuition cap. Its 10% Promise limits out-of-pocket tuition to 10% of parental adjusted gross income, verified annually through the FAFSA. The cap covers tuition only (federal aid and work-study go toward room, board, and other costs), and the program is designed to reach families who earn too much for need-based aid but still can't cover Whitman's full cost of attendance. Three different mechanisms, one shared bet: give families real numbers earlier, and more of them will see themselves as able to afford you. Georgetown University's The Feed rounded up all three in a recent piece on cost transparency. Link in comments.