Students rank their top 10 colleges ahead of decision day
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts
(Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images)
With an acceptance rate of almost 4%Massachusetts Institute of Technology is considered the ultimate dream school according to a new survey by college-bound students and their families.
However, not only is it one of the hardest schools to reach, it is also one of the schools in the nation most expensive Institutions – Tuition and fees, room and board, and other student expenses totaled more than $79,000 this year.
At the same time, most college students and their parents now say that affordability and dealing with the burden of debt that often accompanies a college degree are their top concerns, even when it comes to getting into the school of their choice, so The Princeton Review 2023 College Hopes & Worries Poll.
Most of the colleges that top students’ wish lists are “permanent favorites,” according to Robert Franek, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review. They’re also among the most competitive: Stanford’s acceptance rate is also just under 4%; at Harvard it is about 3%.
In the wake of the pandemic, a small group of universities, including many in the Ivy League, have seen a record-breaking surge in applications this season, according to a Common Application report.
The report found application volume 30% jumped since the 2019-20 school year, although enrollment has plummeted nationwide.
“There is an unconscious consensus that college is only worth going to if you can go to a life-changing college,” said Hafeez Lakhani, Founder and President of Lakhani Coaching in New York.
More from Personal Finance:
College is still worth it, research finds
The cheapest states for state tuition
These 4 steps can help you save big on college expenses
National College Decision Day is upon us
As admissions letters trickle in, students have just a few weeks to decide their next step before National College Decision Day on June 1.
At this point, they must pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place at the school of their choice.
But the biggest problem remains how they pay for their studies. A whopping 98% of families said Financial help would be necessary to pay for college, and 82% said it was “extremely” or “very” necessary, The Princeton Review found.
“Financial aid is needed now more than ever,” said Franek.
Don’t base your decision on sticker price alone
Still, “Never cross an expensive school off your list just because of the price of the sticker,” Franek said. Consider the amount of Help available as private schools tend to have more money available.
“A lot of these schools give substantial scholarships — that’s free money.”
For example, MIT offers generous aid packages for those who qualify. Last year, the average annual fee paid by a financial aid student was less than $20,000, the school said.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/15/students-rank-their-top-10-colleges-as-decision-day-nears.html Students rank their top 10 colleges ahead of decision day
