High school students and their parents analyze the nation’s college rankings every year as they prepare their college lists. Numerous websites, including Forbes, U.S. News, World Report, and Niche, rank colleges in various categories using enormous amounts of data.
Even though each ranking system is unique and has its standards, only some people know how rankings are determined. Users only look at these rankings and accept their results at face value. These rankings have become so crucial that some parents are prepared to spend thousands of dollars to smuggle their kids into highly regarded universities.
However, these rankings frequently need to pay more attention to how to earn a degree at a fair price. Despite the name recognition and outward appearance of the university’s prominence, students should ensure they are focusing on the rankings that will help them achieve in the future.
Affordable Elite Colleges in the U.S.
Three independent criteria—research, social mobility, and possibilities for public service—are used in one rating system from Washington Monthly to determine how well four-year institutions do in each category. They took 208 of the most selective colleges. They ranked them according to how well they recruit and graduate students from middle-class and lower-income families, the net price they charge these students, and the student’s expected future earnings to gather the data for “America’s Affordable Elite Colleges.” The objective was to give the kids the knowledge they needed to comprehend their financial commitment and how it would impact their future.
It’s possible to bargain & afford these elite American Universities & Colleges. Here are the top ten elite colleges according to Washington Monthly:
- CUNY Baruch College (N.Y.)
- First-gen students: 49%
- Median earnings: $57,188
- Predicted median earnings: $61,422
- Net price of attendance: $4,128
- University of California – Davis (C.A.)
- First-gen students: 38%
- Median earnings: $58,469
- Predicted median earnings: $56,949
- Net price of attendance: $11,361
- Stanford University (C.A.)
- First-gen students: 25%
- Median earnings: $91,782
- Predicted median earnings: $74,710
- Net price of attendance: $2,800
- University of California – Los Angeles (C.A.)
- First-gen students: 35%
- Median earnings: $61,385
- Predicted median earnings: $62,510
- Net price of attendance: $9389
- Washington and Lee University (V.A.)
- First-gen students: N/A
- Median earnings: $76,011
- Predicted median earnings: $58,014
- Net price of attendance: $3,841
- University of Florida (F.L.)
- First-gen students: 30%
- Median earnings: $54,609
- Predicted median earnings: $53,973
- Net price of attendance: $7,461
- College of the Holy Cross (M.A.)
- First-gen students: 16%
- Median earnings: $68,358
- Predicted median earnings: $56,087
- Net price of attendance: $13,546
- Harvard University (M.A.)
- First-gen students: 22%
- Median earnings: $94,579
- Predicted median earnings: $72,994
- Net price of attendance: $4,137
- University of California – San Diego (C.A.)
- First-gen students: 37%
- Median earnings: $60,673
- Predicted median earnings: $66,496
- Net price of attendance: $10,226
- Georgetown University (D.C.)
- First-gen students: 14%
- Median earnings: $90,491
- Predicted median earnings: $66,807
- Net price of attendance: $10,560
What Matters in This Ranking
Every year, students with SAT or ACT scores close to perfect, at the top of their class, and with a strong CV of extracurricular accomplishments gain admission to Ivy League schools and other prestigious colleges. But they are then forced to make a difficult choice because that acceptance letter also has a hefty price tag. Students may see the financial commitment they are making while choosing a school and major by looking at the net price of the institution and the expected earnings. Before submitting an application to a particular college, students should take into account the following:
- Examine a major’s earning potential and its future. The STEM majors with the best earning potential tended to be engineering, accounting, and aerospace studies, according to PayScale’s College Salary Report. In contrast, arts and humanities majors typically start off with lower starting salaries, with the lowest paying fields, according to PayScale being social work, early childhood special education, and human services. However, many humanities disciplines eventually catch up to their professional counterparts.
- What forms of financial assistance are available? Parents are frequently shocked when I inform them that Ivy League institutions only provide need-based financial aid and do not award merit-based scholarships. This implies that they do not offer academic or sports scholarships. Ivy League schools only provide need-based scholarships because they believe all their students are intellectually excellent, so they do not offer merit-based scholarships.
In comparison to affordability, name recognition plays a key role.
Consider Sarah Lawrence, a University of the liberal arts in New York City. It’s the kind of university that many people picture when they envision the stereotypical college experience, with a lovely campus and widespread notoriety.
The second college of higher learning was Baruch College, a division of the City University of New York. About 50% of its students are the first generation of their family to attend college, and it lacks a traditional campus. You have probably only heard of Baruch if you live nearby.
You might be surprised to learn how similar these two colleges’ academic credentials are. The typical SAT score for a freshman at Sarah Lawrence is 1240-1410, while at Baruch, it ranges from 1190 to 1350. The admittance percentage for Sarah Lawrence is 56%, whereas it is 39% for Baruch.
