I’ve said over and over again to parents, “You’ve got to look at the statistics when it comes to paying for college.” Before the list begins, before the college visits start and before the applications are completed, you MUST know how much it costs and if you can afford to pay for it. 

Where can you find the statistics? You can do your own research on College Navigator or CollegeData, or you look at these compiled from a survey by the Princeton Review.

Look at these statistics from the Princeton Review’s 2018 Edition of Colleges That Pay You Back:

• “Best Financial Aid” #1 Bowdoin College (ME) / #25 Macalester College (MN)
• “Best Career Placement” – #1 Harvey Mudd College (CA) / #25 Cornell University (NY)
• “Best Alumni Network” – #1 Pennsylvania State University / #25 Union College (NY)
• “Best Schools for Internships” – #1 Northeastern University (MA) / #25 Gettysburg College (PA)
• “Best Schools for Making an Impact” – #1 Wesleyan University (CT) / #25 Kalamazoo College (MI)
• “Top Colleges That Pay You Back for Students with No Demonstrated Need” – #1 Harvey Mudd College (CA) / #25 University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

These are more than statistics. They help you decide if your college investment will be worth the cost. Your student may not be thinking along these lines, but it’s your job to bring them down to earth.

When choosing a college, ROI (return on investment) should be part of the decision mix. Take a look at these Top 50 colleges with the highest ROI.

Quick reminder

If your student is taking the March SAT, February 9th is the deadline for registration. Don't procrastinate. Your junior SHOULD register for this test if he's planning to take the SAT. Follow this link: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register?excmpid=oc264-st-11-omg