Two million copies in print
Kaplan booked himself on Oprah, Good Morning America, and 5,000 more TV and radio shows. His book became the best-selling book in the genre.
The Scholaroo story
From free cash for college to building strong credit, we help students jumpstart their financial future.
Short(ish) version
Back when Ben Kaplan was a high school student, he didn’t have a clue how to pay for college. Growing up as a competitive tennis player, he always thought he’d go to school on a tennis scholarship. But after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back, he suddenly needed a different way to pay for school. Enter the wonderful world of college scholarships. Kaplan discovered that there were scholarships out there for virtually every type of student, interest, or skill. After applying for three dozen scholarships, Kaplan won two dozen of them and amassed $90,000 for college — enough to graduate from Harvard University virtually for free.
The founder
Determined to help others reach similar success
Kaplan wrote his first book, How to Go to College Almost for Free, during his senior year of college.
More than 1,000 campuses
For the next ten years, Ben spoke at more than 1,000 high school and college campuses on topics related to education and personal finance.
Scholars & Dollars
Kaplan launched his nationally syndicated Scholars & Dollars newspaper column at The Oregonian and wrote columns on student personal finance for The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, and Time.
Timeline
From a first scholarship to Scholaroo
A $17,500 scholarship in 1994 led to a debt-free Harvard degree, a best-selling book and, 25 years later, Scholaroo.
01
1994
A first scholarship
Ben discovered his first college scholarship by accident, and won $17,500 for college from Discover Card.
02
1995
$90,000 for college
He applied for three dozen scholarships and won two dozen, amassing $90,000 for use at any college. He was admitted to Harvard, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals named him the “Top Student Leader in America.”
03
1998
How to Go to Harvard Free
He wrote an article by that name for The New York Times, based on his own experience.
04
1999
Harvard, debt-free
He graduated magna cum laude in economics, with virtually the entire cost of his education covered by scholarship winnings.
05
2000
On the road
A 25-city paying-for-college speaking tour took the book across the country on a 40-foot bus sponsored by Sallie Mae.
06
2001
Scholarship Coach
He launched the Scholarship Coach website to make it easier for millions of students to find college scholarships. HarperCollins published the book’s second edition.
07
2013
With Citibank
He created educational materials with Citibank, distributed to millions of students and families.
08
2015
300,000 students
His live talks passed 300,000 students and families nationwide.
What we cover
From applications to financial aid
01
Scholarships
Scholarship opportunities and funding for students pursuing education.
02
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, work-study, and the systems helping students pay for education.
03
College Applications
The college admissions process — applications, acceptance rates, and admissions trends.
04
Higher Education
Colleges, universities, and the higher education sector — tuition, policy, rankings, and campus news.
05
College Life
Campus culture and the social experience of attending college.
06
Distance Learning
Online education and virtual learning — remote classes, MOOCs, and digital educational tools.
07
Adult Education
Continuing education and learning programs for adults outside traditional school.
08
Language Learning
Learning new languages — apps, instruction, immersion programs, and language acquisition.
Scholaroo today
Student finance reinvented
In 2019, Ben launched the first beta version of Scholaroo with a focus on making college scholarship searches less time-consuming and burdensome. In 2023, the Scholaroo team expanded the platform to cover multiple topics within student-related personal finance including financial aid, student loans, and credit cards.
And just like that, the latest version of Scholaroo was born.