Cappex Uncovers Top 25 Best Value Colleges and Universities
CHICAGO, IL (PRWEB) October 28, 2014 -- It’s no longer a secret – four years of college is really expensive. According to a July 2014 report from the U.S. Department of Education, the average cost of college tuition continues to rise at a rate of 4.5% for private universities. In public institutions, that figure is 8.3%. The average tuition for one year of college currently stands at $22,261.00. Yet study after study shows that in the end, the benefits of a college degree outweigh the costs. So students (and their parents) expect a stronger return on investment than ever before.
Many colleges work very hard to provide students both outstanding academics and affordability, whether it comes in the form of comparatively low tuition, or generous financial aid packages for students in need. Twenty-five of those schools have been named as The 2015 CappiesTM’ winners for “Best Value”.
Cappex, Your College Decision HeadquartersTM, helps students discover new colleges and scholarships, compare top choices and read student reviews. With this mission in mind, Cappex created the 2015 Cappies™, a compilation of more than 1.4 million student reviews of more than 2,000 colleges and universities. The result is a list honoring America’s top 25 favorite schools across six popular categories.
Today, Cappex is pleased to announce the schools with the highest ratings in the “Best Value” category.
Check out some of the specifics that got the attention of Cappex student reviewers and elevated certain schools to the top of the 2015 CappiesTM.
• The U.S. government pays for tuition, room and board for those students who choose to attend the U.S. Naval Academy (#3).
• At Loras College (#2), 79% of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid. Nearly every graduate from the class of 2013 was either employed or continuing their education after graduating (98.7%)
• Berea College (#5) accepts students on low-economic settings from Appalachia and different ethnic origins, and full-time students receive a full scholarship to attend. Room and board fees are determined separately.
At many of the 2015 Cappies™ recipient schools, the average grant to freshmen with need is more than $10,000. Among the top 10 private “Best Value” colleges, the average attendance cost is about $17,000 after deducting the average grant to students with need. Among the top 10 public “Best Value” colleges, the average cost for in-state students is about $8,400.
“The cost of higher education is increasingly one of our nation’s toughest issues, and Cappex is always there for students and their families,” said Sarah Wilde, Senior Vice President of Marketing. “We have access to millions of users, and we are able to process their reviews and feedback into actionable information for prospective college students who may feel overwhelmed by some of the sticker prices for four-year institutions. We think this list will serve as an ongoing, valuable resource.”
If you are curious about the colleges and universities Cappex students selected as providing the biggest bang for the buck, check out the full list of schools in the Best Value Colleges category now. Other winners from The 2015 Cappies™ will be announced in the coming weeks for the Hardest Colleges, Best Colleges for Activities, and Best College Dorms. Also see the list of winners in the previous category announced for Safest Colleges and Best College Food.
About Cappex
With more than 6 million student users, Cappex is a top web destination for high school and college students as they actively discover and research colleges online. Cappex provides free tools for students to determine their best fit for colleges and scholarships as well as search from more than 3,000 college profiles. Cappex also works closely with admissions officers at hundreds of colleges and universities to help them reach their enrollment goals by going beyond student search to generate qualified inquiries online. Schools can attract the students they want without needing to spend time identifying lists and writing campaigns. Learn more at Cappex.com.
Media Contacts: The Harbinger Group
Eileen Rochford, [email protected], 312/953-3305
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Eileen Rochford, The Harbinger Group, +1 312-953-3305, [email protected]
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