An outline of the features and functionality you should consider while searching for a Net Price Calculator. Presented by Ross Clurman and TWG Plus (http://www.twgplus.com) (@twgplus)

1. 5 FEATURES YOUR NPC NEEDS
Presented by TWG Plus

2. WHO WE ARE
Ross Clurman
Director of Marketing
Dale Gaubatz
Executive Director of Strategic Enrollment Management
Talmadge Boyd
Director of Interactive Strategies
Chris McGrath
Lead Web Developer

3. THE HEOA
Overview –
• October 29, 2011 deadline
• Use the federally provided template
• Develop your own Net Price Calculator
• Outsource the development of your Net Price Calculator

4. THE FEDERAL TEMPLATE
Overview –
• Complete an online application
• Populate some basic tables based on averages
• Enter optional caveats and explanations
• Download your packaged NPC
While it is extremely easy to build and use, there are limitations...

5. FEDERAL LIMITATIONS
• Lacks customizations – both to design and functionality
• No “help” feature for users
• Users cannot save/continue
• Institutions do not have the ability to track usage
• Highly inaccurate:
“A test of the federal template using 145,000 actual dependent and independent
students’ financial profiles found that 7 out of 10 students fell outside of the correct
Federal Methodology (FM) EFC range, with an average discrepancy of $6,187.”

6. FIVE FEATURES YOU NEED
1. Accuracy
2. Customizations – both to look/feel and functionality
3. Save and continue
4. Ease of use – for end users and for your staff
5. Administrative system

7. ACCURACY
• Someone who regularly tests the accuracy of NPC results
• Ensure you provide the a good representation of actual costs

8. CUSTOMIZATIONS – DESIGN
• Your NPC is an extension of your brand
• Especially important when using a third-party
• Seamless transition from your website to the calculator
• Reduces reluctance to provide personal information

9. DESIGN EXAMPLES

10. CUSTOM FUNCTIONALITY
• Multiple-campus cost calculation
• Estimate cost for current or future academic year
• Integration of merit awards and scholarships
• Contact field integration to generate leads

11. POPULAR CUSTOMIZATIONS
• Enter your EFC & skip the calculation steps
• Additional academic fields (i.e. “Program of Interest”)
• Integration of “Next Steps” on the Results page
• Email my results functionality

12. NEXT STEPS

13. EMAIL MY RESULTS

14. SAVE & CONTINUE
• Similar to online shopping, it’s frustrating to start over
• Provide a unique ID or username/password
• Collect optional contact information as a failsafe

15. UNIQUE USER ID

16. OPTIONAL CONTACT INFO

17. EASE OF USE & HELP
• Important for both end users (students/parents) and your staff
• Easy to use and easy to learn how to manage

18. EASY FOR END USERS
• Pre-populated fields (“Status”)
• Detailed explanation of some questions
• Calculation worksheets
• Contact info for specific questions

19. DETAILED EXPLANATIONS

20. CALCULATION WORKSHEET

21. CONTACT US

22. EASY FOR STAFF
• Clean interface design
• A simple Admin System

23. REPORTING & TRACKING
• Who’s using your Net Price Calculator
• How often it’s being accessed
• Are users completing the NPC
• Automatic notifications and reports

24. USER INFORMATION

25. DETAILED USER INFO

26. NOTIFICATIONS

27. REPORTING

28. QUESTIONS
Thank you for your time.
Ross Clurman
Director of Marketing
ross.clurman@twgplus.com
(512) 476-7101