The least expensive list is limited to schools ranked in the top 220 on USNWR list, so maybe some of the differences can be explained by a cheaper school not making the 220.
However, I don’t think all the info was carefully assembled.
I’m pretty sure the University of Colorado-Denver is in Denver, not Ft. Collins.
@bopper That least expensive college list isn’t accurate for PA. Our true state schools cost less. As the PP pointed out, it’s limited to certain schools.
Then too, when I google Temple U Cost of Attendance I get $32,300 for in state and $44,060 for OOS. I have no idea where BI got their numbers from, but that list is just plain inaccurate.
I believe the most expensive article used OOS data from 2016.
The least expensive list clearly uses instate costs for publics.
Even so, it is inaccurate for any year in the last ten or so, for sure. @thumper1
Playing with statistics leads to many results. It would be more interesting to see the price differences for state flagship schools, for example. I can’t see using someone’s “top 220” or any other ranking systems only. This becomes an variety of fruit comparisons. What is shown is the “list price”, especially for schools that give merit and need based aid for the expensive schools. Craziness in pricing- one cheapest had “0” living expenses- hmmm, even living at home entails costs, including the commute. In the past there have been complaints with the tuition costs for MN and WI students using reciprocity because tuition was based on the state of residence meant WI students at U of MN paid less than the instate students. I think that has changed by now.
I’m assuming this is in-state?
I find it funny when people tell kids to disregard sticker price. Just because you are getting free goodies, it doesn’t mean others applicants will. Colleges who tell admitted teens to take a hike if they can’t get their parents or banks to pay outrageous amount, aren’t really generous. Charitable? Yes. Generous? No.
@CupCakeMuffins, I think the advice is not to assume a lower priced school will cost less than an expensive school with good financial aid. Many of the lower cost schools don’t cover full need, so it can actually be less expensive (particularly for families with high need) to go with a pricey school that does. Of course it also depends on one’s own financial picture; for instance it may makes sense for donut hole families to choose a school with a low sticker price and/or considerable automatic merit. That’s why it’s so important for applicants to run the NPC instead of assuming a school will be in or out of financial range.
It’s a mistake for parents & students to fail to take the time to understand what sort of cost-reducing aid is offered by each college, and what the standards are to award such aid It’s a common mistake – I admit to making the mistake myself by allowing my daughter to apply to one OOS public as a safety when that particular state offers no grant-based aid whatsoever to nonresidents. Ten minutes of research would have saved an application fee.
But beyond that, if the results are disappointing it’s not the fault of the school. The truth is that almost all colleges provide significant discounts in the form of need-based financial aid or merit money to a significant portion of their students, and while it can be hard to predict specifics, it’s not hard at all to get a general sense of each college’s standard practices. These are easy questions to answer:
Does the college commit to meeting need for all students? or do they leverage or limit their financial aid in some fashion?
If they do meet need for all students, what factors do they consider in determining need? Do they consider home equity, and if so, do they cap home equity in any way? If parents are divorced, do they require information about the noncustodial parent’s finances? If parents are remarried, how do they weigh in step-parent income on both sides of the family?
Does the college offer merit aid? If so, how is merit aid allocated? Does the merit-based aid also have a need-based component? Is there guaranteed merit money based on certain academic credentials (test scores, NM status, etc.) - and if so, how much? What are the requirements for students who accept merit offers in order to keep that aid? Are there other specialized scholarships – such as awards based on artistic or athletic talent - and if so, what additional requirements to those awards impose on students?
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And obviously the college list can be fashioned accordingly. If the family knows that the FAFSA EFC is too high to qualify for need-based aid, then yes – the student would be paying sticker price at all the elite colleges that provide only need-based aid. If the student has financial need but doesn’t stand a chance of being admitted to a generous full-need school and has limited prospects for merit money, then in-state public options may be the only path.