NextTier Debuts College Search Platform

NextTier Education has unveiled a new platform designed to help students, counselors and parents in the college search, planning an application processes.

The cloud-based platform offers information on every two- and four-year college in the United States, according to information released by the company, and is designed to provide each student an application plan featuring required tasks for specific schools, step-by-step guidance and deadlines. The platform aims to enable collaboration between students, parents and counselors, and also offers information on more than 20,000 grants and scholarships as well as tools to help match students with appropriate financial support.

"The complexities of preparing and applying for college acceptance can easily bog down students, their parents and even school counselors who are often hampered by a 500:1 student-to-counselor ratio," said Justin Shiffman, founder and CEO of NextTier Education, in a prepared statement. "We created NextTier to greatly simplify the process, deliver an easy-to-follow plan for each student and allow counselors to quickly track every student's progress and provide active coaching for maximum postsecondary acceptance. We are focused on providing all the information needed for all parties involved, simplifying and managing the entire workflow and providing centralized communication that allows students, educators and parents to stay informed and participate in the process."

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • three main icons—a cloud, a user profile, and a padlock—connected by circuit lines on a blue abstract background

    Report: Identity Has Become a Critical Security Perimeter for Cloud Services

    A new threat landscape report points to new cloud vulnerabilities. According to the 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report from Fortinet, while misconfigured cloud storage buckets were once a prime vector for cybersecurity exploits, other cloud missteps are gaining focus.

  • two large brackets facing each other with various arrows, circles, and rectangles flowing between them

    1EdTech Partners with DXtera to Support Ed Tech Interoperability

    1EdTech Consortium and DXtera Institute have announced a partnership aimed at improving access to learning data in postsecondary and higher education.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • illustration of a football stadium with helmet on the left and laptop with ed tech icons on the right

    The 2025 NFL Draft and Ed Tech Selection: A Strategic Parallel

    In the fast-evolving landscape of collegiate football, the NFL, and higher education, one might not immediately draw connections between the 2025 NFL Draft and the selection of proper educational technology for a college campus. However, upon closer examination, both processes share striking similarities: a rigorous assessment of needs, long-term strategic impact, talent or tool evaluation, financial considerations, and adaptability to a dynamic future.