We all know that college is expensive, but what’s most alarming is that many colleges who list their total cost of attendance are actually underestimating the price.
That’s because many colleges (one-third, in fact) are underestimating the cost of living in the city where students reside.
We talk a lot about college value, but few rankings systems take affordability into account.
MONEY, however, recently released its yearly list of the colleges ranked by how much value they deliver to the student, by providing a great education at an affordable price and good career prospects.
We’re big fans of their methodology, because unlike the rankings in U.S. News and many other publications, they strive to show students how important it is to consider return on investment when choosing a college.
During high school, a good counselor can make all the difference in helping a student apply to college, particular if the student is low-income or is the first person in their family to go to college. But recent studies have shown that there’s a huge shortage in the number of high school counselors needed to adequately […]
When most students enter college, student debt is a far thing from their minds. They’re more likely to be concerned with classes, making friends, and adjusting to a new place. Since most students enter college as young adults, it’s difficult for many to grasp how student loans work and the consequences of taking them out. But […]
There’s been plenty of discussion about the astronomical growth of college tuition costs over the past few decades.
But rarely do you hear about another culprit for rising college costs: room and board.
A recent article from the Hechinger Report addresses a problem many of our clients face: confusing financial aid award letters from colleges. Full of technical jargon, abbreviations and often misleading information, many letters leave families unsure of how much college will actually cost, which makes it difficult to compare letters from different schools. Financial aid ‘awards’ […]
While the government and colleges claim to be increasing access to college for students of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, a new study finds that diversity is actually decreasing at many schools. What’s the culprit? Rising tuition, which makes it more difficult for low-income students (many of whom are ethnically diverse) to afford college. Less […]
A few years ago, the government reformed its Parent PLUS loan program and tightened credit standards for issuing loans to parents to help pay for college.
While this reform may have reduced predatory lending, it may have had an unintended negative consequence as well: reducing the number of black students in college, according to a new report from Hechinger Report.
One of the main tenants of Roman Catholicism is to help the poor, but a new study finds Catholic colleges and universities in the U.S. are doing a poor job. The New America Foundation found that five of the 10 most expensive private universities for low-income students, and 10 of the top 28, are Catholic. […]
Scholarships and grants are supposed to help students afford college when they may not otherwise be able to.
But a new report finds that most private scholarships, such as those through Rotary Clubs, or other organizations, are going to more wealthy students than poor ones.