The “Prior-Prior Year” Rule: The Financial Aid Secret Most Families Miss

Most families assume colleges look at their current income when determining financial aid.

They don’t.

In this episode, Matt and Peg break down the “prior-prior year” rule—one of the most important (and misunderstood) concepts in college financial aid. Colleges actually use income from two years earlier, meaning the financial decisions you make today could determine how much aid your student receives in the future.

They explain why the base income year is so important, how it can impact financial aid eligibility for all four years of college, and what families can still do depending on where their student is in high school.

You’ll also learn practical strategies families often overlook—from retirement contributions to asset timing—and why planning early can open the door to thousands of dollars in potential aid.

Plus, Matt and Peg discuss one of the biggest mistakes families make during the college search: falling in love with schools before understanding what they’ll actually cost.

Whether your student is a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior, this episode will help you understand what matters, what you can control, and how to start planning smarter.Connect with Us! Website: ⁠⁠https://collegeaidpro.com/⁠⁠Create a FREE MyCAP Account: https://hubs.li/Q03PTJ_x0Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/collegeaidpro/ ⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-aid-pro/ ⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠support@collegeaidpro.com⁠⁠ PLUS Get 15% OFF site wide with coupon code COLLEGETRY15 💸