10 best values in private colleges

I thought this article was intended to be about private universities with the "best value," not a list of the 10 best ivy league schools.  Any college with an annual price tag in excess of $50K is not a good value in my book.  One of the most affordable private universities in the country, which couples a not notch education with excellent academics, is Brigham Young University.  I can only image the snub here is due to its affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It would be nice to see some schools that are a great value financially and are a a viable option for individuals who did not graduate from high school as valedictorian or salutatorian. 

You get a much better value by going to a Community College/Junior College for two years, then transferring to a local state college to finish.  What a horrible article, obviously written by a product of an overpriced university.  

Stupid articele--they left off Oxford, Cambridge and the Sorbonne. 

 

Sure, prestigious names have merit, but people reading a "value'  article like this probably don't have $100,000 and Math SAT scores over 700.

Come on..... get real.  These are Outstanding Universities, but also some of the most selective in the country.  The price tag is very expensive but as noted, many kids get some need based help to afford the pricey tuition.  Give me a list of the top 10 or 20 Private Universities that your average kid can gain admission.  Not the top 1-2%.  I have always heard that Saint Louis University was one of the best bargins in the US that fall into my parameters.  These big ivy and state schools that are very selective , costly and have huge endowments can make it work for a kid that is scoring a perfect score on the SAT.  But what about the kid with the B+ average that wants a great private education rather than go to their in state school that makes them 1 0f 30,000 kids.  Give me the best 10 to 20 schools that have an enrollment of 6,000 to 12,000 kids that is a real bargin based on the quality education received.  Otherwise dont waste my time with this kind of article again.  (let me guess,,,,,the writer went to one of these schools??)

I was reading this article and kept hoping to see my school, but it wasn't there. I go to BYU and my tuition is only 2,200 or so. I get a half tuition scholarship and then with the FAFSA, I only had to pay about $100 dolars for tution this last semester. We have high quality education too (I'm constantly reminded by my undergrad research supervisor that our science department is on the cutting edge of technology). $19,000 out of my pocket to go to an ivy league is just not a good value for an undergrad. I'd prefer to start a career without being burried in debt. With this economy I'd never get out of it.

very misleading article.... sham, shame, shame!!!!....

None of these colleges are worth the $.  College is the biggest ripoff being sold to the public ever.  "You can't be successful w/o college" and the rest of the BS.  Where you go to college has close to NOTHING to do with how successful you are.   

The article is correct when you look at the whole picture. When and what is the value realized?  Tuition costs? Quality of education?  Reputation of school? What doors does the school open?  Who wants your school's degree? . . and what were your grades?  Grades and school reputation open big doors.  That is value. 

 

Of course, maybe your only value is the intrinsic, personal value that education brings.  Then, America is a smorgasbord of fine education schools.  I believe upper education and the great school system we have is our greatest achievement and export to the world.  I take nothing for granted.  Let's preserve and strengthen it.

 

Ranking organizations are big business with just one company selling over 6.7 million copies.  Universities manipulate class room sizes and about every other way to get themselves noticed.  I went to the top international MBA school and found it to be comprised of high profile teaching personnel; including a vice president of the united states.  Let me attest just because you are good in your field, typically due to being independently wealthy, does not make one a good teacher.  Another rule of thumb anytime statistics are used they can be manipulated easily by any number of methodologies to give the desired outcome.  It is impossible to compare rankings because they all use different formula's for attaining their desired outcome.  There is also the issue of grade fixing that everyone seems to omit when discussing universities.  All the prestigious universities will not let anyone get below a B+ others are an A; meaning you don't have to show up for class and can fail all your tests.  Rankings are also based on money donated which is self perpetuating. If you are rich and have no detectable talents besides relying on your University's reputation it is in your best interest to donate for self preservation. Additionally, if you donate over a million you get a fountain or building and anyone admitted under the table.  My school received a donation of 60 million, largest in history, gentleman actually got the school name changed to his own as part of the deal.  Basically, all schools are big business and when you are dealing with millions people succumb to greed.  That has been my experience as an international business consultant/analyst for top corporations all over the world.  If my comments based on first hand experience offends your sense of perceived authority always does the right thing please read the following article with actual citations.  Unlike the article under discussion which is also out to make money and I am sure has a conflict of interest somewhere.  Choosing a college is not the important issue here instead it should be what does your teenager enjoy doing? That will give them the impetus to become successful by learning all they can at the college library and probably challenge their professors who will then take an interest in mentoring them.  The research article I would suggest you read instead of the tripe put out by the one we are discussing has factual accounts of Ivy league deans falsifying results for rankings and other typical dishonest behavior of big business.  (listed and cited per authors request here) <a href=" Rankings - History of Rankings, The Pros and Cons of Rankings</a> 

What about "Hard Work U", otherwise known as College of the Ozarks, located in Hollister, MO.? If you are willing to work you can have virtually no out of pocket expenses. It also teaches a great work ethic and self reliance to the students. With college costs exploding at several times the cost of living, this becomes an exceptional value and a model that more colleges and universities need to begin to copy. Otherwise, higher education is pricing itself out of business.