Paying for college is the biggest financial decision most families will ever make. In The Price You Pay for College (2021), financial journalist Ron Lieber offers an in-depth exploration of the complexities of financing a college education in America. He guides parents and students through the issues they need to consider and the questions they should ask to make informed decisions. He makes sense of the alphabet soup of FAFSA, EFC, and CSS, and clarifies the difference between merit and need-based assistance. Lieber also looks at alternative pathways that can save money, such as starting at community college or attending college online.