If you’re a parent, you are probably worried about college costs.

College tuition has been increasing faster than inflation for years. The most expensive colleges used to be $30,000, then $40,000 and now dozens of schools have shot past the $50,000 mark.

Who can afford to pay that kind of money?

Sure, you’ve heard that there’s scholarships and financial aid available for students, but here’s what you’re probably wondering:
“How does my child get some of this college cash?”

You may assume that your teenager’s high school counselor will provide the answer. These counselors, however, aren’t trained to provide financial advice. In most states, public school counselors must obtain master’s degrees in counseling, but graduate programs rarely include any college planning courses.

Independent college consultants are also usually not equipped to tackle financial questions. They focus on finding academic matches for teenagers, not analyzing the odds that a particular college will give them money.