Midwest College Planning: Helping Families Make Smart College Choices for Over 16 Years
At Midwest College Planning, our core philosophy has remained the same:
We help families find a school where the student thrives—and the family can afford it.
We do this by focusing on three critical pillars: budget, research, and test scores.
Budget: Know What You Can Afford
Understanding how much you can and should spend on college is essential. The cost of an undergraduate degree continues to rise—public universities can exceed $100,000, and private institutions may reach up to $400,000. Our goal is to help families make smart financial choices before any tuition bill arrives. We work with you to assess your savings, plan for future expenses, and explore tax-advantaged strategies to make college more affordable.
Research: Finding the Right Fit
Choosing the right school can feel overwhelming. It’s a bit like the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears—some schools are too big, some too small, but there’s always one that’s just right. We help students go beyond name recognition to explore schools that align with their academic interests, social preferences, and financial realities. Through personalized conversations and data-driven tools, we make the search process manageable and meaningful.
Test Scores: Scholarships & Opportunities
During the pandemic, many colleges went test-optional—but that trend is shifting. More schools are now reinstating test score requirements, especially for specific majors, honors programs, or course placements. Even at test-optional institutions, higher scores can still significantly boost scholarship potential. Our advice? Take the test. Study. Repeat. The return on effort can be thousands of dollars in savings.
We offer one-on-one guidance to both parents and students, helping families navigate these key decisions together. The results? Students who land at schools where they succeed—and families that feel confident about the financial investment.
Meet Our Team
Marc E. Ziegler
President & CEO | Senior College Planning Specialist
📧 [email protected]
Marc has worked with families across the country to develop customized strategies for funding college in a tax-efficient, sustainable way. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego and a Master’s in Education from Azusa Pacific University. Marc lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and is currently navigating the college journey with his three children—one in grad school, one in college, and one in high school. He understands the pressure, decisions, and emotions parents face because he’s living it too. When he’s not working, Marc enjoys his kids’ activities, cheering for the Columbus Blue Jackets (Go Jackets!), or walking the family dogs.
Lisa Newkirk
College Planning Associate & Office Manager
📧 [email protected]
Lisa is the organizational engine behind Midwest College Planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The Ohio State University and brings years of experience and empathy to the families we serve. A proud resident of Westerville, Ohio, Lisa is an empty nester who understands what it takes to get a child through college—and stay sane in the process. When not managing operations or assisting clients, you’ll find her entertaining friends, reading on her deck, walking her dog Humphrey, or enjoying her Friday afternoon virtual bridge game (a pandemic tradition she’s happily kept!).