Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Is your University really Worth that Much?

By Samantha Asher

The cost of college has gone up considerably over the past couple decades. What's strange to see is how different college can cost from one school to another. Go to an Ivy League or top private school and expect to pay over $30,000 a year. Go to a community college and transfer to a four year state college, and (only considering tuition, not room and board), and you probably won't spend $30,000 for all 4 years in tuition and fees.

What is odd is that one college, such as a state school, can have tuition costing $5,500 a year, while another private school costs $30,000 a year in tuition. Why do some schools cost so much more money, and is it worth it?

State schools cost less, but this doesn't mean they have bad teachers, fewer programs, or bad living spaces. There are able to charge less because they get funding from the government as well as your tuition.

State schools are government sponsored, meaning they get money from the government like public primary and secondary schools. This allows them to charge considerably less for tuition. Private schools get no money from the government. They rely 100% on the tuition and fees they get from enrolled students to fund everything.

When you are searching for college, you should only look at tuition for affordability. Don't look at it as a means of deciding how good the school is. Pricier schools are not superior to cheaper schools. In some instances, the more expensive schools are worse. They waste tons of money on things you don't need such as beautiful buildings and first class lunches. You should be going to a college for a great education, not to live like a King.

First, decide your career path and research that department in the colleges you are interested in. For example, if you are interested in business, ask around at employers to see which schools they get a lot of employees from. Ask alumni what they thought of their college and look at reviews that rate schools based on the value of the education they are offering.

Never rely on what you 'hear around' at school from other classmates or what people at other colleges think of other schools. Gossip is rarely reliable and often students at other colleges are much more partial to the school they are attending, especially if they were denied admission to the school you are interested in. You want real opinions from actual students and alumni.

Pay attention to the price or else you'll end up throwing away a lot of money. Remember, money isn't everything and money doesn't decide the true value of a school. Choose the school you feel is best for you without going above your budget. - 15224

About the Author: