Kristina Ellis

About Kristina Ellis

Most families approach college like a guessing game. I approach it with strategy.I’m Kristina Ellis, founder of College Ninja and the creator of scholarship strategy systems that have helped more than families plan for college without crushing debt. I personally won over in scholarships, graduated from Vanderbilt University debt-free, and have spent the last 12+ years turning that experience into frameworks, tools, and programs that work at scale.My book, Confessions of a Scholarship Winner, became a national bestseller (#1 on Amazon in College Finance and Top 20 overall at Barnes & Noble) and has been the entry point for thousands of families into a smarter approach to paying for school. As a former Ramsey Personality and frequent co-host of The Ramsey Show, I shared practical, no-nonsense financial strategies with an audience of more than 18 million weekly listeners. During that time, I contributed to the creation of the College chapter of Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance curriculum. I also appeared in the Borrowed Future documentary and supported its national launch through media interviews, helping expand the conversation around student debt and college funding.Today, through College Ninja, I help families approach scholarships and financial aid with clarity, structure, and a strategic advantage. We design structured programs, tools, and preparation systems that move students beyond generic advice and into confident, strategic action.What sets our approach apart is judge-level insight. I don’t teach students to write generic essays and hope for the best. I teach them how scholarship selection actually works and how to position themselves strategically and competitively.I regularly collaborate with GEARUP programs, school districts, college access organizations, and EdTech leaders who share a common goal: making college financially accessible for more students. If you’re working in this space, I’m happy to connect.

Experience

1. Founder

   College Ninja

   Apr 2023 — Present · Nashville, TN, US

   Most scholarship advice teaches students to apply harder. We teach them to think like the judge.I’ve won over in scholarships and have also sat on the evaluator side helping decide who receives them. That dual perspective as both winner and evaluator is the foundation of College Ninja and the work I’m building within scholarship education.Across my work in this space, I’ve helped more than students and families move from guesswork to strategy through digital programs, live workshops, and structured planning tools.What I’m building at College Ninja:• The Judge’s Table, a flagship program that teaches scholarship preparation through the evaluator’s lens.• Strategy-driven systems including trackers, workbooks, and frameworks that make scholarship preparation more intentional and repeatable.• Partnerships with schools, GEARUP programs, and college access organizations to bring scholarship strategy directly to students.• A new category of scholarship education focused on positioning, decision-making, and long-term financial strategy.My goal is simple: help families approach college funding with clarity and give students the positioning advantage most applicants never learn.

Education

• Vanderbilt University

  BS, Human and Organizational Development, Business Planning and Entrepreneurship

  2005 — 2010

• Belmont University

  Master's degree, Learning and Organizational Change

  2010 — 2012

Skills

• Market Research
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Event Planning
• Public Speaking
• Management Consulting
• Community Participation
• Research
• Organizational Development
• Public Relations
• Social Networking
• Training
• Social Media
• Marketing
• Organizational Structure
• Critical Thinking
• Coaching
• Strategic Planning
• Data Analysis
• Marketing Strategy
• Higher Education
• Marketing Management
• Persistence
• Time Management
• Entrepreneurship