Why Is College So Expensive?

Only with a college education are you urged to look at price last.

We follow a logical step-by-step procedure with all high-priced consumer purchases except one, a college education. Why not start your college search that way, because that is almost certainly where you’ll finish your search.

When you shop for any high priced consumer product (for example, a car) you START with the price, make several “need vs. want” calculations from there, and arrive at a final decision that offers what you need at a price that is within your family’s financial resources.

But value is there for the savvy consumer. Examples include:

• co-op programs (Drexel, Northeastern) where valuable paid internships are a requirement.

• five college consortiums (Amherst, Mass; Claremont colleges in California) in which a student may take courses at five different campuses.

• PG or “Gap” year programs for the student who may get little out of the college experience right now.

• colleges for whom the SATs or ACTs are optional (more than 25% of four year colleges).

• non-traditional college settings for those of us who learn in at a different pace.

• service academies or ROTC programs where part/all of expenses are paid for by the US taxpayer.

When you visit a campus, work hard to find out the following:

Non-negotiable

• graduation rate within 4 years? within 6 years?

• job placement by major? for the previous year’s senior class?

• level of support services? academic? medical?

Nice to know and you’ll find it out soon enough if you enroll

• who teaches freshman courses, full professors? TAs?

• % of grades that are A or B?

Be an educated consumer. If you view a college education as an investment, why approach the college search any other way?