Did you Know?

Some Expert Insight

"Although the primary responsibility for financing a college education rests with the family, over 50% of college students receive financial aid."
Anne M. Sturtevant
Director of Financial Aid
Emory University

"In today's marketplace, even the well-to-do may find that they can qualify for (financial) aid."
"How to Pay for College,"
U.S. News & World Report,
October 3, 1994

"Not long ago, the most costly purchase in a person's life was buying a house. For many families now, the cost of putting their children through college has become the most expensive purchase they will ever make."
Alice B. Jeffiies
Financial Consultant
Merrill Lynch
Private Client Group

"The Bureau of Labor and Statistics now agrees. It says that of the 18 million college graduates expected to join the labor force in the 1992-2005 period, only 14 million will get jobs that require college training. The others will end up in positions for which they are overqualified."
"Cutting Deals,"
Forbes
January 30, 1995

"The average student debt burden tripled from $2,500 in 1980 to $7,500 in 1990."
Higher Education & National Affairs
March 7, 1994

"Over the past five years, tuition at most schools has gone up 5% to 6% each year. Over the same five years, disposable income per person, figuring in inflation, has risen less than 1% per year. So college costs are ripping right past the ability of most families to pay them."
USA Today
April 15, 1994

"Applying for financial aid is a mystery of complex applications and incomprehensible terminology, but if you need help with your college costs, apply."
David Levy
Director of Financial Aid
California Institute of Technology

"Today's average cost of a 4 year public university is over $40,000; private colleges average over $90,000."
The College Board
October 7, 1998

"Inflation is running below 3%--College tuition is averaging 5 to 6 % annually."
Tom Leahy,
Campus Financial

"College education is equivalent to an investment yielding 13 to 14% after taxes."
Forbes Magazine

"Jobs that don’t require a degree, college graduates earn more than non-degree peers. 8% for men and 40% for women."
Harvard/MIT Study

"55% of students pay less than $4,000 a year and 75% pay less than $8,000"
U.S. News & World Report
Sept. 7, 1998

"50% of students receive aid at public and 72% receive aid at private schools."
U.S. News & World Report
Sept. 7, 1998

"The average private college or university is giving back 36.7% of its published price as financial aid -- up 40% since 1990."
U.S. News & World Report
Sept. 7, 1998

"During the past school year, more than 60,000 students hired consultants."
U.S. News & World Report
Aug. 31, 1998

"College tuition and fees rose this year by an average of 3.4% (public) and 4.7% (private). Those are the lowest rates of increase in 12 years. The CPI rose 2.3%"
The College Board
1999

"Ivy League schools may expose students to brilliant scholars and stimulating peers. But students create their own success; this makes the schools look good."
Robert Samuels - Richmond Times-Dispatch
Nov. 1, 1999