College! Podcast Episode 10: Get to Know Our CEO & Our Plan to Fix the U.S. College System Part 1
In Episode 10 of our College! podcast, host Matt Carpenter kicks off a special edition episode titled “Get to Know Our CEO & Our Plan to Fix the U.S. College System (Part 1).” This episode introduces listeners to College Aid Pro’s CEO, Kevin Degnan (“Degs”), offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look at his personal journey through the college and financial aid system, and our mission to end the student debt crisis.
🎧 Missed the episode? Listen here
From Ivy League Rejection to Industry Leadership
Degs grew up in a large Irish-Catholic family in Marshfield, Massachusetts—one of eight siblings. His early college journey was far from smooth. Despite a stellar academic and athletic resume, Degs faced rejection from every Ivy League and top-tier college he applied to, with one exception: Stonehill College.
That early experience of unexpected rejection—despite doing “everything right”—profoundly shaped his perspective on the flaws in the college admissions process. The system, he says, is “stacked” in ways most families aren’t prepared to navigate. It’s a wake-up call that thousands of students experience every year.
💡 “You might think you’re something in your little bubble… but the reality is you’re one of 10,000 kids with the same resume.”
Lessons from Admissions Rejections
When asked what advice he’d give today’s students who are facing rejection, Degs emphasized the importance of perspective. College isn’t the final destination—it’s part of the journey. Who you meet and what you do matters far more than the logo on your sweatshirt.
His advice to families? Start with a clear understanding of what you want from college and how you plan to pay for it. It’s a theme we preach at College Aid Pro every day—because most families are flying blind through this process.
Interested in learning more about how Degs is able to over come these hurdles in his higher education journey? Tune into the Full Episode for ALL the context!
🌍 Peace Corps, Grad School, & Iraq: A Global Path to Purpose
Degs’ journey didn’t stop at Stonehill. After a second round of rejections—this time from law schools—he pivoted. He joined the Peace Corps, serving in Peru as a small business development volunteer. That experience exposed him to new challenges and perspectives, laying the groundwork for a deeper understanding of real-world financial struggles and community solutions.
He later earned an MBA from the University of South Carolina, studying Arabic and spending time in the Middle East before landing a high-powered finance role with ExxonMobil in Iraq. From there, he moved into investment banking and eventually joined forces to build what would become College Aid Pro.
💸 What’s Wrong With the U.S. College System?
The episode ends by teeing up the second half of the conversation: how we got to this broken place in American higher ed. With $1.7 trillion in student loan debt, rising tuition, and a system that lacks transparency, families are left navigating one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives—alone.
At College Aid Pro, we believe there’s a better way. A way that makes college affordable without sacrificing your financial future. A way that brings clarity to the chaos.
Stay tuned for Part 2, where Degs and Matt dive into solutions and how CAP’s tech + team are leading the charge to fix the college funding system.
💬 Final Thoughts
Degs’ story is one of resilience, redirection, and real impact. His experience mirrors what so many families face—but unlike most, he’s in a position to build tools that change how future families interact with the higher education system.
If your family is heading into the college process, don’t go it alone. Explore MyCAP and see how we’re making college affordable for every student.
Be sure to catch up on the Full Episode Here, before part 2 drops on Sunday April 6th @ 12PM ET!
