<p>Elite Maine college lands on top of government list of pricey schools</p>
<p>"Bates College is No. 1, and the small private college is none too happy about it.</p>
<p>The elite Maine liberal arts school recently landed on the top of a new government list that ranks colleges according to tuition and required fees. With total fees of $51,300 for the 2009-2010 school year, Bates outranked every other private and public college, leading to a flurry of unflattering news coverage.</p>
<p>Bates officials say the list is misleading, because it was one of five schools that submitted its comprehensive fee for the year, which also includes room and board charges. Other schools on the list including tuition and fees but not room and board…"</p>
<p>Weren’t the ranking organization’s directions clear enough?</p>
<p>Bates charges a comprehensive fee that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. They do not break it down into individual charges for each item, so they don’t have a charge for just tuition. The cost of attending Bates is in line with its peer institutions; it is neither the most expensive nor least expensive.</p>
<p>Is it possible that Bates will be more liberal in its financial aid to those applying for Fall 2012, just to redeem their own image? What percentage of students receives financial aid? (need-based, I know, is all they give)</p>
<p>Is anyone at BATES (returning student) having problems receiving their financial aid letter? Very slow in responding, late according to their calendar and they delay looking at our sons file and when they do they keep finding things that we are missing. They also state that the DOE has delayed everything by 2 weeks. We are in a group of 100+ families that have not heard about our upcoming bill will be. We call every week and nothing is happening!!!</p>
<p>We ask what if they aid is cut significantly enough that he can’t attend and now there is no time to react or apply to any other college!!! they just shrug their shoulders…anyone else having this issue?</p>
<p>Stephen, our package was delayed a bit because FAFSA requested more proof my son is a US citizen (he was adopted from S. Korea.) Our package remained relatively the same - except $1000 was in the form of a student loan (last year there was no loan component) and his contribution went up a bit, also, based on his increased 2011 earnings. We have chosen not to have him take out the loan and we pay his contribution as we prefer he use his earnings to pay for his books, clothes, gas for his car and all his every day expenses. I cannot complain since the grant part is $39,000.</p>