Expert college financial consulting for students, parents, and families who want real answers — not more confusion.

Welcome to The College Money Coach!

My name is Melissa Frimpong, MBA and I know the financial aid system from the inside out — because I spent twelve years working in it.

As a financial aid administrator at a major university in the Tampa Bay area, I worked daily with undergraduate students, graduate students, and professional students pursuing degrees in medicine and pharmacy. I sat across the desk from thousands of students and families navigating one of the most important — and most financially overwhelming — decisions of their lives. I watched brilliant, motivated students struggle to understand their award letters and underestimate their true cost of attendance.

That experience changed me. And it led me here.

I founded The College Money Coach because every student and every family deserves a trusted consultant who understands how financial aid actually works — not just in theory, but in practice, in policy, and in the real-world decisions that determine whether college is affordable.

My Philosophy

College is one of the largest financial investments a family will ever make. Yet most students and parents receive their financial aid award letter, stare at numbers they don't fully understand, and make decisions worth tens of thousands of dollars without anyone truly explaining what it all means.

I believe that should change.

I believe that price clarity is a right, not a privilege. I believe that understanding your cost of attendance, your net price, and your financial aid package should not require a finance degree. And I believe that with the right guidance, every family — regardless of income, background, or experience with the financial aid process — can make smarter, more confident decisions about paying for college.

That belief is the foundation of everything I do at The College Money Coach.

My Background & Credentials

🎓 Education:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business

🏛️ Professional Experience:

• 12 years as a Financial Aid Administrator at a major Tampa Bay area university

• Extensive experience working with undergraduate, graduate, and professional students including medical and pharmacy programs

• Deep expertise in financial aid advising, cost of attendance analysis, award letter interpretation, and financial wellness education

🏅 Professional Leadership:

• Former Board Member, Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (FASFAA)

• Served multiple terms as Graduate & Professional Chair on the Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Board

How I Can Help You?

Whether you are a high school student preparing to apply, a current college student managing year-to-year costs, a graduate student navigating professional program funding, or a parent trying to make sense of it all — The College Money Coach offers personalized, one-on-one consulting services including:

• ✅ Cost of Attendance Analysis — understanding every dollar your education will truly cost

• ✅ Award Letter Review & Interpretation — decoding financial aid offers so you can compare schools fairly

• ✅ College Budget Planning — building a realistic, sustainable budget for all four years

• ✅ Financial Aid Strategy — maximizing your aid, understanding loan options, and making informed borrowing decisions

• ✅ Graduate & Professional School Funding Guidance — specialized knowledge for medical, pharmacy, law, and advanced degree students

• ✅ Financial Wellness Coaching — building healthy money habits that serve students long after graduation