Do you have kids going to college now or soon? We'd like to introduce you to Bill Staib and College Raptor!

Co-founded in 2012 by William Staib and Scott Blodgett , College Raptor is now the go-to resource for parents of, and students who are thinking about attending college (and are even currently in college right now) to find their best college match, scholarships, and more. But this wasn’t the case right from the start...?

A Humble History

As a for-profit company that doesn’t charge users for its services, it was challenging to navigate the dichotomy of catering to an audience of parents and students while also maintaining a solid business relationship with those who invested their money into the company. In fact, after two years of development (from what was once a bunch of spreadsheets), College Raptor still had very few clients and was competing with other established college resources. Regardless, Bill believed in the mission of his company so much that he didn’t take home a paycheck for two years. He chose to accept the small beginnings as they were and persevere anyway—shoutout to his wife for having faith in him!?

Fast forward just over 10 years and the hard work and grit have paid off as College Raptor has now been acquired by a large financial services firm. Let’s talk about what it took to get here.

The Start of a New Chapter?

Prior to the establishment of College Raptor, a common topic around the Staib dinner table was college, especially since Bill has a total of six kids who all planned on getting a higher education. As a parent, one of the most important considerations for Bill was how he was going to afford tuition for six children. So, the research began.?

How much would this one school cost in comparison to this other school? What about housing costs and scholarship potential? Questions led to more questions and soon enough, Bill found himself devoting tons of time to building spreadsheets and filling in data about each institution he was finding. As this process continued, he began to wonder why there wasn’t a tool for this specific type of research. That then turned into another question—why are the net prices of colleges not matching the sticker prices? And so, it happened…

The idea for College Raptor was born.

Why were advertised college prices not true??

As Bill was researching colleges and calculating how much it would cost for his kids to attend, he found that the sticker prices of schools did not match the net prices. Some schools would have such a high advertised tuition, but the net prices would be very similar to the school that had a lower advertised tuition. Bill began asking himself, “Do other parents and students even know about this?”?

As his spreadsheets expanded, the vision for Bill’s passion project—now known as College Raptor—did too. At first, he was solely researching and building comprehensive comparison spreadsheets for his own children but quickly realized how helpful a resource like this could be for other families. Because what about the students and parents who didn’t know where to look and what to look for? Do they just pay the high-ticket price and take out a large student loan? Do they say no to higher education altogether? Bill knew that if others knew where to look and what to look for, they could find a great university with affordable tuition.?

The massive (and we mean MASSIVE) spreadsheet Bill built for his own kids eventually turned into a website that would help the general public—for FREE. Making this incredible resource free was something Bill refused to compromise on.

The Golden Egg

Bill ultimately created a Net Price Calculator that parents and students can use to compare the REAL cost of colleges all across the board. Initially, getting colleges to collaborate with College Raptor and share their prices was controversial but Bill persevered—and he didn’t stop at the Net Price Calculator he provided to schools.?

College Raptor turned their attention to families with a college match tool that has changed the game of matching students with the best higher education institution for their lifestyle. And there is so much more. College Raptor features a career finder resource that allows students to tap into a database of over 1,100 careers and see the average salaries, education needed, and which colleges are best fit.?

With their scholarship search and student loan finder, students can search through thousands of scholarships and/or compare student loan companies and rates side by side. College Raptor has truly become the one-stop shop for students who are considering college.

Now It’s Time to Showcase It to the World!

Bill knew that a great business idea can be stellar but without the right marketing, especially in the age of technology, it can fail. How are you to help the public if the public can’t even find you?

Bill’s willingness to help others and his compassion are what led his team of marketing experts to work with him. This team loved his tools (almost as much as he did) and truly couldn’t believe more people weren’t using them! Together the team focused on content, strategy, positioning, SEO optimization, and branding to get more people to see College Raptor and visit their site. And help put College Raptor on the map for big companies to invest in—and we did it!?

If the 2012 Bill could see the 2023 Bill, he’d be ecstatic but still hungry to reach more people. College Raptor has reportedly reached 10-25% of its targeted audience and is excited to increase these numbers in the coming years. From finding scholarships to college advice from college students, College Raptor is happily helping all students with everything they need.?

Business owners can learn a thing (or seven) from Bill’s 11 years dedicated to College Raptor and even his previous career in tech.

It is rare that Plan A (or even Plan B) for your business is what actually pans out, but Bill believed in his overall vision with unmatched dedication and passion.?

An Important Mission

“I’ve never thought it wasn’t going to work,” Bill says, talking about periods with College Raptor where it felt stagnant, especially when it came to finding investors.?

The overall mission was the important factor for College Raptor—give parents and students a FREE resource that houses the information they need to be successful in higher education. Having accessible resources can significantly reduce the amount of stress for parents and students and help them make an informed decision about where the student should go to college.?

And this mission made it all possible. Bill’s kids are reaping the rewards and he wholeheartedly hopes your family will use these tools to imagine your educational dreams. (OR something like this to end it)??

Bill says staying focused and pivoting when needed can positively change the course of your business. And his biggest advice? Do not worry about the aesthetics or the show of your business. Yes, a nice office is cool to show off and maybe get people to work for you but do they care about your mission? It’s important to stay frugal and not spend money you don’t have or money that isn’t exactly allocated for looks just to keep up appearances.?

Advice worth passing on

“John Pappajohn invested in my first business in California and has taught me so much over the 30 years of mentorship. Out of everything I’ve learned from him, I always remember don’t breathe your own ether and water seeks its own level,” Bill says, wanting to pass along the same advice to business owners. For those of you unfamiliar with the sayings, John believed that when you’re selling your products or services, it’s important to believe in them but also be humble enough to know when changes need to be made. He also emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded (but still different) people for the good of your business.?

And finally, remembering the goal and mission of your business will keep you going when things don’t feel like they’re progressing at the level or pace you want. If you learn anything from the College Raptor start-up success story, it’s that you should stay true to yourself and remember to keep your eyes fixed on your long-term goal.?

Thank you, William Staib

The entire?team?at LRobInspires wants to personally thank Bill and the rest of the College Raptor team for allowing us to be a true partner in the journey. We love what College Raptor stands for and the difference it has and can make for so many students and families.?Including many of ours…

Note: Be sure to take a look at College Raptor's recently shared 2024 Best College Rankings! This list puts a spotlight on the best colleges and universities the U.S. has to offer. They also provide some special ranking lists: Best HBCUs, Best D3 Colleges, Most Affordable Colleges for Middle Class, and Best Easier-to-Get-Into Colleges.

Helping students keep college affordable is a goal that everyone is now tapping into. Listen to Bill's tips in his recent interview.