Trusted by 30,000+ Families
College by design.
The best possible colleges at the lowest possible prices with on-time graduation.
The typical college plans are based on a wait-and-see approach. With 1.7 Trillion dollars in student loan debt weighing on so many students across the country, Blueprint College Planning helps families select colleges where acceptance and financial aid awards are projected and expected. We do this using a system that has been proven and tested for over 2 decades.
These students saved a fortune on college costs. In some cases, these students received financial aid to pay 3 to 4 years of college for just the cost of a single year. The cost savings can mean the difference between graduating with little to no college debt and making student loan payments for the majority of their working years.
Emory University. Cost of Attendance: $97,948. Net Price after Grants and Scholarships: $27,544. 4 years of college for about the cost of 1 year.
Colorado College Cost of Attendance: $94,630. Net Price after grants and scholarships: $14,630. 4 years of college for less than the cost of 1 year.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Cost of Attendance: $50,140. Net Price after grants and scholarships: $35,140. Private college for public college price.
Complete college planning. A pathway to college with the scholarships and financial aid that make it possible.
For over two decades we’ve used our process to help over 30,000 families save an average of $84,000 per student with an approach that is not used anywhere else. Our families win at the college game with financial aid and admissions guidance so students get into the best fit colleges at the lowest cost.
Career Assessment
One-on-one career and major assessment with a professional career counselor.
Test Prep
SAT and ACT Test Prep developed in-house with diagnostic tools and abundant practice testing.
College Search
Comprehensive college catalog with data-driven insights allow for smart choices.
Financial Aid Optimization
Expert financial aid guidance backed with over 20 years of experience applicable to all financial aid profiles and incomes.
Social Media and Digital Literacy
Comprehensive social media training for the college search and beyond.
Financial Aid Form Prep & Filing
Preparation and optimization of FAFSA, CSS Profile and other institutional aid forms.
Timeline and college checklist
No missed deadlines or opportunities. Your college plan with all major milestones and steps outlined for you.
Financial Aid Appeals and Negotiations
Financial aid evaluations and case-by-case appeals for maximum grants and scholarships.
About Gretchen
Gretchen tunnicliffe - Principal
With more than 25 years of experience in education, Gretchen has dedicated her career to helping students succeed. Much of her work has focused on school-wide literacy initiatives and supporting English Language Learners (ELLs). Her experience includes teaching and leadership roles in the United States, England, and New Zealand.
Throughout her career, Gretchen has designed and led professional development programs, coached educators, and implemented school improvement initiatives. Her passion has always been helping others navigate important educational decisions with confidence.
Gretchen's transition into college planning was a natural extension of her educational background and her own experience guiding her own child through the college admissions process. This experience further reinforced her belief that many families feel overwhelmed by the complexities of college planning and funding. She wanted to provide expert guidance that helps families make informed decisions while minimizing stress throughout the process.
To provide families with the highest level of support, Gretchen partnered with The College Funding Academy, a trusted leader in college planning and funding for more than 25 years. She combines proven coaching strategies with personalized guidance to help students and parents confidently navigate every step of the college planning journey—from building a college list to understanding financial aid and reducing the cost of college.
Gretchen lives in St. Augustine, Florida, with her family. When she's not working with students and parents, she enjoys running, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our frequently asked questions or reach out to understand how our college guidance works.
Is it too early to start? When is the right time?
With a freshman, you are just in time. Anything beyond that and you are behind. With that said, our process will get you caught up very quickly. Most of the families we work with have students in their sophomore and junior years of high school, though on occasion we can take some students in their senior year of high school.
I already have a college counselor / planner. Do I still need this service.
The work that we do very rarely overlaps the work of other private and public college counselors. Schedule a free consultation and you will see why.
I see you are based in Florida. I am in the different part of the country. Can you help me?
If you have an internet connection and you can hop on a ZOOM call, we can do the same work as a family that lives just down the street.
What is the cost of your service?
Every situation is unique, so cost can vary. The feedback we get from our families is that our fee is more reasonable than what most other consultants charge, despite the fact that our process goes beyond traditional admissions counseling and college planning. There is no fee for our first college pre-qualification session. We will be happy to discuss pricing once we have a better understanding of your situation and if we feel our service may offer a tremendous benefit to your college plan.
Will we be meeting at your office? How will we work together?
Our sessions are completed online via ZOOM. We will also communicate via phone, email and text for ongoing coaching and questions.
I am a high income earner. Can you still help?
We help families get their students into the best possible colleges and at the lowest possible prices regardless of income. If you are concerned about over paying for college, we should talk.
Can you help us get into an Ivy League school?
Can we properly evaluate your student's academic fit to an Ivy League? Yes. Can we assess the potential financial aid implications and predict your award if admitted? Absolutely. Can we predict acceptance into a college with a single digit acceptance rate? No one can.
Ivy League schools operate on a different set of rules. We focus on the admissions and financial aid methodologies of the other 99.99% of colleges that are out there.
Is this legit? That Netflix documentary, Operation Varsity Blues, has me worried.
The college planner in that documentary was asking families for donations in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to help backdoor their students into elite colleges. This was also done with coordination with faculty from within the college.
Here is a clue: 1. We will not ask you for a large donation of hundreds of thousands of dollars. 2. We do not work with anyone from inside the colleges.
Everything we do is legal and ethical. We are more worried about the exorbitant prices that the colleges charge.
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