Going Merry by Earnest and ACT Partner to Simplify Path to College Funding
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.
Going Merry di Earnest e ACT hanno annunciato una partnership strategica per semplificare il processo di finanziamento universitario. L’accordo integra gli strumenti di valutazione della preparazione al college di ACT con la piattaforma di aiuti finanziari e borse di studio di Going Merry, che nel 2024 ha aiutato gli studenti a ottenere $8.8 milioni in borse di studio.
La collaborazione offrirà a 360.000 studenti un accesso integrato a risorse complete, tra cui supporto per la compilazione del FAFSA, strumenti per le domande di borsa e consulenza di pianificazione finanziaria direttamente dai loro account ACT. L’iniziativa punta a rendere più agevole il passaggio dai test universitari all’ottenimento degli aiuti economici, favorendo un’istruzione superiore più accessibile e conveniente.
Going Merry de Earnest y ACT han anunciado una alianza estratégica para agilizar el proceso de financiación universitaria. La colaboración integra las herramientas de evaluación de preparación para la universidad de ACT con la plataforma de ayudas y becas de Going Merry, que ayudó a los estudiantes a conseguir $8.8 millones en becas en 2024.
La asociación proporcionará a 360.000 estudiantes acceso fluido a recursos integrales, incluyendo orientación para el FAFSA, herramientas para solicitudes de becas y apoyo en planificación financiera a través de sus cuentas ACT. La iniciativa busca simplificar la transición de las pruebas universitarias a la obtención de ayuda financiera, haciendo la educación superior más accesible y asequible.
Going Merry(어니스트)와 ACT가 대학 자금 조달 과정을 간소화하기 위한 전략적 파트너십을 발표했습니다. 이번 협력은 ACT의 대학 준비도 평가 도구와 Going Merry의 재정 지원 및 장학금 플랫폼을 통합하며, 해당 플랫폼은 2024년에 학생들이 $8.8백만 달러의 장학금을 확보하도록 도왔습니다.
이 파트너십을 통해 36만 명의 학생이 ACT 계정을 통해 FAFSA 안내, 장학금 신청 도구, 재정 계획 지원 등 포괄적인 리소스에 원활하게 접근할 수 있게 됩니다. 이 이니셔티브는 대학 시험에서 재정 지원 확보로의 전환을 단순화해 고등교육을 더 접근 가능하고 부담을 줄이는 것을 목표로 합니다.
Going Merry d'Earnest et ACT ont annoncé un partenariat stratégique visant à simplifier le processus de financement des études supérieures. La collaboration intègre les outils d'évaluation de préparation au college d'ACT à la plateforme d'aide financière et de bourses de Going Merry, qui a permis aux étudiants d'obtenir 8,8 millions de dollars de bourses en 2024.
Le partenariat offrira à 360 000 étudiants un accès fluide à des ressources complètes, y compris une assistance pour le FAFSA, des outils de candidature aux bourses et un accompagnement en planification financière via leurs comptes ACT. L'initiative vise à simplifier la transition des tests universitaires à l'obtention d'une aide financière, rendant l'enseignement supérieur plus accessible et abordable.
Going Merry von Earnest und ACT haben eine strategische Partnerschaft angekündigt, um den Prozess der Studienfinanzierung zu vereinfachen. Die Zusammenarbeit verbindet ACTs Instrumente zur Einschätzung der Studienbereitschaft mit der Finanzierungs- und Stipendienplattform von Going Merry, die 2024 Studierenden geholfen hat, $8,8 Millionen an Stipendien zu sichern.
Die Partnerschaft wird 360.000 Studierenden einen nahtlosen Zugang zu umfassenden Ressourcen bieten, darunter Unterstützung bei der FAFSA-Ausfüllung, Werkzeuge für Stipendienbewerbungen und finanzielle Planungsberatung über ihre ACT-Konten. Ziel der Initiative ist es, den Übergang von den College-Tests zur Sicherung finanzieller Unterstützung zu vereinfachen und die Hochschulbildung zugänglicher und erschwinglicher zu machen.
- 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
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Insights
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
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
"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
- 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).
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Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 340
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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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