SimpleTuition operates a marketplace focused on college affordability, offering loan comparison, textbook purchasing and rental, and savings programs including an internally developed rewards program called SmarterBucks. The company acquired ValoreBooks in 2012 to add textbook rental and purchasing comparisons to its offerings. SimpleTuition expects to serve upwards of 17 million people in 2014 and has grown to a staff of over 35. Revenue increased to $45 million in 2013, and the business has been hovering around profitability, occasionally sinking into the red as it reinvests in product development and acquisitions. Its strategy is to broaden its marketplace into a hub of student services and additional mini-marketplaces under a larger "student savings" umbrella. The company first emerged in 2006 and has expanded both organically and via acquisition to support a wider range of student use cases. SimpleTuition is a Boston, Mass.-based provider of tools and resources for students to manage college-related expenses and debt. Led by co-founder and CEO Kevin Walker, the company's platform includes a private loan comparison tool (SimpleTuition.com), an online textbook marketplace (ValoreBooks), a rewards program (SmarterBucks), and SmarterBank. It operates three core businesses: student loans, textbooks, and rewards. The company closed a $4M Series D funding round to support growth across those businesses. SimpleTuition plans to invest the new funds in product development, marketing, and business development to expand its offerings. SimpleTuition operates an online platform offering tips, advice, interactive tools and deals to help students plan for and reduce college-related costs. Since its 2006 launch the site says it has helped more than 10 million families. The company focuses on tools to plan for college costs, pay less for college-related expenses, and manage and repay student loans. SimpleTuition is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and is funded by Atlas Venture, Flybridge Capital Partners, and North Hill Ventures. Management says the company is expanding its tools and services to assist more college students. The recent financing provides additional liquidity to support that continued growth.

Total raised

$35M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Mar 2014