Named one of the best books of 2021 by Npr New York Times Bestseller and a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice pick "Masterly. . . . represents an extraordinary achievement- It is comprehensive and detailed without being tedious, practical without being banal, impeccably well judged and unusually rigorous. "-Daniel Markovits, New York Times Book Review "Ron Lieber is a gift. " -Scott Galloway. The hugely popular New York Times Your Money columnist and author of the bestselling The Opposite of Spoiled offers a deeply reported and emotionally honest approach to the biggest financial decision families will ever make- what to pay for college-a decision made even more confusing because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sending a teenager to a flagship state university for four years of on-campus living costs more than $100,000 in many parts of the United States. Meanwhile, many families of freshmen attending selective private colleges will spend triple-over $300,000. With the same passion, smarts, and humor that infuse his personal finance column, Ron Lieber offers a much-needed roadmap to help families navigate this difficult and often confusing journey. Lieber begins by explaining who pays what and why and how the financial aid system got so complicated.