<p>I hadn't seen this advice on this forum yet, perhaps I've missed it, but if I did so then have others so posting it here as another facet of this college selection process. Moody's and S&P reported that they have downgraded the credit ratings of several colleges, either because they borrowed too much or assets are too thin. I was suprised to see some of the names on the list, including Wellesley, Amherst and Tulane. The article suggests that, parents should really check under the hood before they buy:</p>
<p>"Bond ratings aren’t scoured like the U.S. News and World Report rankings. But if you’re a parent preparing to start the college search with your son or daughter, the negative financial outlook raises plenty of questions to ask the college tour guide: Will outdated buildings be renovated? Will more part-time instructors replace retiring professors? Will classes get bigger or will students end up in partly online courses? Will the school even be in business by the time your child graduates in four years?"</p>
<p>Apparently, even the well endowed schools are running into peril having given away more than they've taken in from paying students. </p>
<p>"One analysis conducted by a small private college in the Northeast found that of the 4.3 million 18-year-olds in 2009, only 996 had above-average SAT scores, family incomes over $200,000 a year, and had indicated that they wanted to attend a small, private college in the mid-Atlantic or Northeast regions. Of course, hundreds of colleges are going after those same students."</p>