How should students weigh public vs. private schools?
In tough economic times, people tend to look more at public schools, and, generally, public school tuition rates are lower. However, some of the wealthier and less wealthy privates offer generous aid packages that largely negate that difference. So you have to look beyond tuition costs to the availability of aid and ask: How much do the students at the more expensive colleges actually pay? You also need to look at how long it takes to graduate. At many publics, in tight financial times, as states cut their budgets, courses are cancelled. It becomes harder to get into classes, harder to get time with academic advisors. The average graduation rate may be five years or longer. At residential private colleges, most students graduate in four years. In short, you need to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples because a lower annual tuition at a public college that takes you five or six years may be slightly more expensive than higher tuition at a private that gets you in and out in four
Related Questions
- Why do we provide bussing for students attending the public schools of Westport and those who reside in Westport but attend private schools in Westport?
- Pointes Frequently asked questions... What is the distinction of a charter school vs private and public schools?
- How should students weigh public vs. private schools?
