Going Merry by Earnest and ACT Partner to Simplify Path to College Funding

Rhea-AI Summary

Going Merry by Earnest and ACT have announced a strategic partnership to streamline the college funding process. The collaboration integrates ACT's college readiness assessment tools with Going Merry's financial aid and scholarship platform, which helped students secure $8.8 million in scholarships in 2024.

The partnership will provide 360,000 students with seamless access to comprehensive resources including FAFSA guidance, scholarship application tools, and financial planning support through their ACT accounts. The initiative aims to simplify the transition from college testing to securing financial aid, making higher education more accessible and affordable.

Positive

• Platform helped secure $8.8 million in scholarships in 2024
• Large user base of 360,000 students demonstrates strong market penetration
• Strategic partnership expands service accessibility through ACT's established network

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Services Analyst

Navient's subsidiary Earnest strengthens its market position by partnering with ACT, potentially expanding its customer acquisition funnel for future loan products.

This partnership between Navient-owned Going Merry by Earnest and ACT represents a strategic expansion of Navient's ecosystem in the education financing space. By integrating with ACT's testing platform, Navient gains privileged access to students at a critical decision point, effectively creating an early-stage customer acquisition channel for potential future loan products.

The integration connects 360,000 students who used Going Merry in 2024 (securing $8.8 million in scholarships) with ACT's massive testing audience. This represents a significant opportunity to expand Navient's funnel of prospective borrowers while positioning the company as a helpful resource rather than just a lender.

From a competitive standpoint, this creates a unique advantage for Navient in the education financing marketplace. By engaging students earlier in their college journey through scholarship and financial aid guidance, Navient establishes brand recognition and trust before students make borrowing decisions. The partnership effectively lowers customer acquisition costs while potentially increasing conversion rates.

For investors, this move demonstrates Navient's forward-thinking approach to sustainable growth in the student financing sector, creating multiple touchpoints with potential customers while diversifying beyond traditional loan servicing into broader financial education services—a trend that could help insulate the company from regulatory and market pressures facing traditional student lenders.

Partnership integrates college readiness and financial aid tools to expand access

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Going Merry by Earnest, an innovative financial aid and scholarship platform, and ACT, a leader in college readiness and assessment, have announced a partnership that will simplify the path from college testing to college funding. The collaboration combines ACT's test scores and readiness measures with Going Merry by Earnest's full suite of financial aid and scholarship tools, enabling access to higher education for students and their families.

"At Earnest, we believe that giving students early access to the right tools can significantly shape their journey," said Matt Palese, COO of Earnest. "This partnership with ACT combines the academic support students rely on with the financial guidance they often struggle to find.

By connecting the experience of taking the ACT with personalized financial aid resources, we're removing barriers that too often stand in the way of higher education. Our goal is to help every student make confident, informed decisions about their future, and this collaboration is an important step toward making that a reality."

Now, students who take the ACT can seamlessly transition from test preparation to financial aid discovery, joining the 360,000 students who used Going Merry by Earnest in 2024 to secure $8.8 million in scholarships. Through their ACT account, students can access Going Merry by Earnest's award-winning resources, including:

• FAFSA Guidance: Accessible resources, such as FAQs and video tutorials, to help students confidently complete their applications.
• Scholarship Streamlining: Tools that auto-fill applications, provide estimated completion times, and offer a personalized list of vetted scholarship recommendations matched to students.
• Financial Planning Support:
  • College Match Tool to compare college costs.
  • Smart Planner to keep students organized.
  • Financial Aid Appeal Letter Generator to assist students in requesting additional funding.

"Students face a maze of complex questions about college opportunities, and unfortunately, the lack of easily accessible, trustworthy information can be a significant barrier to accessing higher education," said Janet Godwin, CEO of ACT. "Through our partnership with Going Merry by Earnest, we will break down those barriers by giving them the financial tools and resources they need to make informed decisions. Higher education should not just remain a dream; it should be an affordable and attainable reality for all."

Learn more about how ACT and Going Merry by Earnest are helping students on the path to college at www.goingmerry.com and www.act.org.

About Earnest:
Earnest empowers past, present, and soon-to-be students to maximize their financial futures through thoughtful guidance and impactful products. Founded in 2013 on the belief that financially responsible people deserve better options and access to credit, Earnest's education tools and lending products empower anyone seeking higher education to reduce the total price tag of their education, supercharge their ability to pay down student debt, and get on the right financial track fast. Earnest further expanded its mission through the acquisition of Going Merry, a leading financial aid and scholarship platform, in 2021. Together, they simplify the financial aid process to make higher education more accessible.
Learn more at earnest.com.

Earnest is a subsidiary of Navient (Nasdaq: NAVI).

Earnest Loans are made by One American Bank, Member FDIC, or FinWise Bank, Member FDIC. One American Bank, 515 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Finwise Bank, 756 East Winchester, Suite 100, Murray, UT 84107

Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 340 Oakland, CA 94612, NMLS #1204917, Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC (NMLS #1204917) with support from Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (MOHELA) (NMLS# 1442770). One American Bank, FinWise Bank, and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries, including Earnest Operations LLC, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

© 2025 Earnest LLC. All rights reserved.

About ACT:
ACT is dedicated to transforming college and career readiness pathways so that everyone can discover and fulfill their potential. With over 65 years of experience, ACT's assessments, research, and learning tools help students, educators, and organizations achieve their education and career goals. Learn more at www.act.org.

Press Contact
Earnest PR
press@earnest.com

ACT PR
publicrelations@act.org

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SOURCE Earnest

FAQ

What is the partnership between Going Merry by Earnest and ACT?

Going Merry by Earnest and ACT have partnered to integrate college readiness assessment tools with financial aid and scholarship resources, providing students seamless access to college funding tools through their ACT accounts.

How much in scholarships did Going Merry by Earnest help students secure in 2024?

Going Merry by Earnest helped students secure $8.8 million in scholarships in 2024.

How many students used Going Merry by Earnest's platform in 2024?

360,000 students used Going Merry by Earnest's platform in 2024.

What features does Going Merry by Earnest offer through the ACT partnership?

The platform offers FAFSA guidance, scholarship application streamlining with auto-fill capabilities, a College Match Tool for cost comparison, Smart Planner for organization, and a Financial Aid Appeal Letter Generator.

Where can students learn more about the Going Merry and ACT partnership?

Students can learn more about the partnership at www.goingmerry.com and www.act.org.