It's YOUR time to #EdUp
Sept. 29, 2026

How Do 8 in 10 Families Discard a College Without Running the Numbers? - with Annat Shrabstein, Sr. Director, Consumer Insights & Brand Strategy, Sallie

How Do 8 in 10 Families Discard a College Without Running the Numbers? - with Annat Shrabstein, Sr. Director, Consumer Insights & Brand Strategy, Sallie
How Do 8 in 10 Families Discard a College Without Running the Numbers? - with Annat Shrabstein, Sr. Director, Consumer Insights & Brand Strategy, Sallie
EdUp Experience
How Do 8 in 10 Families Discard a College Without Running the Numbers? - with Annat Shrabstein, Sr. Director, Consumer Insights & Brand Strategy, Sallie

Key Takeaways

  • Despite negative headlines, 95% of high school families still plan to continue their education after graduation.
  • An alarming 8 in 10 families discard a college based on sticker price alone without ever running the net price calculator.
  • About 40% of families feel completely alone while navigating the complex college planning process that 15 million students start every fall.
  • Annat Shrabstein shares valuable consumer insights on how families make decisions regarding higher education financing and college selection.

t's YOUR time to #EdUp with Annat Shrabstein, Sr. Director, Consumer Insights & Brand Strategy, Sallie

This episode is sponsored by⁠ the MSCHE 2026 Annual Conference, where we will be podcasting live, keynoting, & facilitating a pre-conference workshop from December 9-11 in Philadelphia! Early-bird pricing ends October 12, 2026!

This episode is sponsored by 2026 Arizona Community College Administrators Conference where we will be podcasting live from October 7-9 on the campus of Yavapai College!

This episode is also sponsored by the ⁠InsightsEDU 2027⁠ Conference - focused on attracting & retaining the modern learner - where we will be podcasting live from February 23-25 in Phoenix, AZ! Use code EDUP & save $100! Early-bird pricing ends December 15, 2026!

YOUR host is ⁠Dr. Jodi Blinco

  • Why do 95% of high school families still plan to continue education after graduation despite every headline saying otherwise?
  • How does 8 in 10 families discard a college based on cost alone without ever running the net price calculator?
  • What makes 40% of families feel completely alone navigating a process 15 million students start every fall?

Listen in to #EdUp

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Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Annat Shrabstein?

Annat Shrabstein is the Senior Director of Consumer Insights & Brand Strategy at Sallie, focusing on higher education consumer trends.

Why do families discard colleges based on cost?

Many families immediately rule out colleges due to the sticker price without utilizing tools like the net price calculator to see what they would actually pay.

How many students start the college navigation process every fall?

Approximately 15 million students start the college navigation process every fall, with many feeling overwhelmed and alone.