Help one student take a step toward paying for college

WHY IT MATTERS

Financial aid can reduce what students pay by 64% to 90%. And yet the class of 2024 left $4.4 billion in Pell Grants unclaimed—money that was already available to them.

The gap between what students think college costs and what they'd actually pay is one of the most consequential misunderstandings in education. And one conversation from a trusted adult can begin to close it. Students don't need a complete understanding of financial aid to take a first step. They need someone to help them see that the sticker price isn't the whole story—and that there are real tools and resources to help them figure out what's possible.

The conversations are already happening. Open Doors gives you the tools to turn them into action.

THE ACTION (3 steps)

1. Identify a student who may have concerns about affording college or hasn't started exploring financial aid options.
2. Reach out — a brief conversation during advising, a check-in with a family, or a quick message to a student who's on the fence.
3. Use your free Open Doors resources to guide the conversation. Share the student-facing materials so they have clear, concrete next steps on FAFSA^®, scholarships, and understanding their real costs.

WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU JOIN

When you commit, you unlock free, ready-to-use resources that make the conversation easy—conversation starters, student-facing financial aid materials with clear next steps, and tools designed to fit into the moments you're already having with students. No prep required. Just show up, share, and open the door.

Join Open Doors today. Resources for this door will be ready this fall—as soon as they are, we'll send them straight to your inbox so you're set for the conversation.