Charlotte Admissions Firm Wins Consumer Choice Award

Consumer Choice Award Winner Cites $25M in Scholarships Secured for Families

Charlotte, United States – May 6, 2026 / Clark College Consulting /

clarkcollegeconsulting.com has been named the recipient of the Consumer Choice Award for Best College & Career Business in Charlotte. Unlike industry honors determined by panels or self-nomination, this designation is based on independent consumer research, reflecting direct feedback from clients in the Charlotte market.

Recognition Rooted in Consumer Research

The Consumer Choice Award program conducts independent surveys across Canadian and U.S. markets to identify businesses that consistently earn strong marks from the people they serve. No application process is involved. The award reflects real client experience rather than marketing reach or brand recognition.

For clarkcollegeconsulting.com, the Consumer Choice Award aligns with a documented history of client outcomes. The firm has guided more than 1,200 families through the college admissions process, secured more than $25 million in scholarships, and holds a 98% right-fit acceptance rate. Families working with the firm report average savings of $40,000 to $60,000 per student, a figure directly connected to the firm’s emphasis on college affordability as a measurable outcome alongside academic alignment.

The Framework Behind the Results

The firm’s outcomes are built on a structured methodology called the DREAM-LAUNCH-BANK framework. This three-phase approach guides students from identifying the right academic and cultural fit, through the application and admissions stages, and into a financial strategy designed to lower out-of-pocket costs. College selection and financial planning are treated as a single integrated process rather than parallel concerns addressed separately.

Founder Ryan Clark, MBA, CCPS, brings more than 20 years of experience in college admissions consulting to each client engagement. His background combines academic advising with financial strategy, shaping how the firm approaches the work it does with every family.

“Receiving the Consumer Choice Award means that more than 1,200 families we have served in Charlotte spoke up and said this process worked for them,” said Ryan Clark, MBA, CCPS, Founder of clarkcollegeconsulting.com. “That is not something we applied for or campaigned for – it came from the people who sat across the table from us, trusted us with one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives, and saw real outcomes. That validation matters more to us than any industry recognition could.”

Addressing College Admissions Charlotte Families Face

The college admissions Charlotte families encounter today is considerably more complex than what prior generations navigated. Acceptance rates at selective institutions have narrowed, merit aid has grown more competitive, and the gap between a school’s published sticker price and its actual cost remains poorly understood by many families approaching the process for the first time. The firm works directly within that gap, helping families evaluate which schools are both academically appropriate and financially realistic.

Demand for structured, outcome-focused college consulting has continued to grow across the Charlotte region. With average student loan debt at graduation exceeding $30,000 nationally, more families are actively seeking guidance that addresses college affordability as part of the admissions strategy itself rather than as a separate consideration handled after an acceptance letter arrives.

About clarkcollegeconsulting.com

clarkcollegeconsulting.com is a Charlotte-based college admissions and financial strategy firm founded by Ryan Clark, MBA, CCPS. The firm has served more than 1,200 families, secured more than $25 million in scholarships, and maintains a 98% right-fit acceptance rate. Using the DREAM-LAUNCH-BANK framework, the firm helps students identify the right college fit while developing a financial strategy designed to reduce total family cost. Families interested in working with the firm can schedule a free strategy session at clarkcollegeconsulting.com.

Learn more at Clark College Consulting