This is a segment of Bautis Financial’s college planning series, which includes webinars, podcast episodes, blog posts and downloadables to aid college-bound students and families in the admissions process. Visit our college planning hub for more valuable resources.
As a new college application season gets underway, the price tag for higher education is in the spotlight.
Now, above all else, students and families are concerned about the rising cost and the student debt that often goes along with it.
To that end, The Princeton Review ranked colleges by how much financial aid is awarded and how satisfied students are with their packages. The Princeton Review’s Best Colleges for 2024 report is based on data collected from 165,000 student surveys.
Tuition and fees at a four-year private college averaged $39,400 in the 2022-23 academic year. At four-year, out-of-state public colleges, it was $28,240, according to the College Board, which tracks trends in college pricing and student aid. When adding in other expenses, the total cost can be more than $70,000 a year for undergraduates at some private colleges, and in some cases, even for out-of-state students attending four-year public schools.
However, about two-thirds of all full-time students receive aid, which can help bring the cost of college down significantly.
Related: How to Evaluate a Financial-Aid Award Letter
Top 10 Colleges for Financial Aid
- Washington University in St. Louis (Sticker Price: $83,760, Average Need-Based Scholarship: $58,197)
- Thomas Aquinas College (Sticker Price: $39,400, Average Need-Based Scholarship: $15,283)
- Skidmore College (Sticker Price: $78,880, Average Need-Based Scholarship: $50,000)
- College of the Atlantic (Sticker Price: $56,280, Average Need-Based Scholarship: $37,229)
- Wabash College (Sticker Price: $62,425, Average Need-Based Scholarship: $37,419)
- Emory University (Sticker Price: $71,770, Average Need-Based Scholarship: $51,808)
- St. Olaf College (Sticker Price: $69,070, Average Need-Based Scholarship: $44,362)
- Reed College (Sticker Price: $78,010, Average Need-Based Scholarship: $45,237)
- Williams College (Sticker Price: $77,300), Average Need-Based Scholarship: $66,083)
- Gettysburg College (Sticker Price: $76,690, Average Need-Based Scholarship: $48,852)
Begin your journey of mastering the college admissions process with Bautis Financial. Whether you’re a parent or guardian, student or school counselor, book a free consultation to discuss how our financial advisors can be a college planning resource.
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