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23 best value colleges for budget-conscious students
http://www.savingforcollege.com/articles/23-best-value-colleges-for-budget-conscious-students-862

Posted: 2015-11-04

by Joseph Lage and Kathryn Flynn

For the majority of families, cost is one of the biggest factors in the college decision-making process. In fact, high tuition prices often deter low-income students from even applying to some of the nation's top schools. But what they might not realize is that after available grants and scholarships are taken into consideration their actual out-of pocket cost to attend some of these colleges ends up being quite a bit less than what's published.

To help students find the best bang for their buck, the U.S. Department of Education has compiled a list of the 23 colleges that offer the lowest net prices and highest potential incomes after graduation for students with a family income of $0-$48,000.

Here are some of the best options for students who have the grades but not the cash:

RELATED: How much financial aid will you get? Use this tool to get an idea.

Slides:

1. Amherst College

  a. Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $56,800

  b. Average annual net price for low-income students: $3,739

RELATED: How 7 different assets can affect your financial aid eligibility

Photo attribute: "Amherst College Main Quad" by David Emmerman - PicasaWeb. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

2. Bowdoin College

  a. Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $54,800

  b. Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,731

RELATED: 5 tips to crafting the perfect admissions essay

Photo attribute: "Buck12" by Buck Center - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

3. Brown University

  a. Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $59,700

  b. Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,104

RELATED: Surprising facts about scholarships

4. Columbia University (NYC)

  a. Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $72,900

  b. Average annual net price for low-income students: $5,497

RELATED: The new SAT: Does your dream school require it?

Photo attribute: "Earl Hall Columbia University NYC". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

6. Duke University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $76,700

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,280

RELATED: Will a high school part-time job help with college admissions?

Photo attribute: "Westduke" by Smithfl - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $74,000

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,875

RELATED: How to prepare now for that first tuition bill

Photo attribute: "Tech Tower-6" by Mistercontributer - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

8. Hamilton College

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $57,300

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,245

RELATED: Will the Student Aid Bill of Rights help your family?

Photo attribute: "ElihuRootHouse1" by lvklock - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Commons

9. Harvard University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $87,200

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $3,386

RELATED: 6 steps to landing in the Ivy Leagues

Photo attribute: "Widener Library" by Caroline Culler (User:Wgreaves) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons

10. Haverford College

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $55,600

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $5,648

RELATED: 5 changes to the SAT and how parents are reacting

Photo attribute: "Haverfordfounders" by Jackbauerinvc. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $91,600

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,733

RELATED: 4 things to watch out for when applying to a top school

Photo attribute: "MIT Building 10 and the Great Dome, Cambridge MA" by John Phelan - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

12. Massachusetts Maritime Academy

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $79,500

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,519

RELATED: Being smart about recommendation letters before senior year of high school

13. Princeton University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $75,100

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $5,720

RELATED: How younger students can build a competitive profile for the Ivy League

Photo attribute: By Photo: Andreas Praefcke (Own work (own photograph))

14. Rice University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $59,900

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,960

RELATED: 100 weird scholarship ideas

Photo attribute: "McNairHall 1". Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons

15. Stanford University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $80,900

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $3,895

RELATED: How you can help your child ace the SAT or ACT

Photo attribute: "James H. Clark Center at night HDR-2" by Justin Lebar - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

16. Trinity College

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $56,100

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,874

RELATED: I won't qualify for financial aid but I still need help paying for college

Photo attribute: "Trincolllibrarysnow2003". Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikipedia

18. University of Pennsylvania

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $78,200

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,614

RELATED: Want to land a great job? Here's where you should go to school

Photo attribute: "Penn campus 2" by Bryan Y.W. Shin at the English language Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

19. University of Virginia

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $58,600

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,007

RELATED: 7 things you may not know about student loan repayment

Photo attribute: Alderman Library" by Vtn5n - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons

20. Vanderbilt University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $60,900

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,147

RELATED: 8 tips on how to make student loans work for you

Photo attribute: "CorneliusVanderbiltStatue" by Dansan4444 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

21. Washington and Lee University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $77,600

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,663

RELATED: Is online college a cheaper option for your high school grad?

Photo attribute: "2008-0831-WashingtonandLeeUniversity" by Bobak Ha'Eri - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

22. Williams College

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $58,100

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $8,202

RELATED: 10 things you need to know about getting scholarships

Photo attribute: "Hopkins Observatory Williams College" by Beyond My Ken - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Commons

23. Yale University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $66,000

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,637

RELATED: 9 tips on getting into an Ivy League school

Photo attribute: "Yale School of Management Evans Hall front" by Nick Allen - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

For the majority of families, cost is one of the biggest factors in the college decision-making process. In fact, high tuition prices often deter low-income students from even applying to some of the nation's top schools. But what they might not realize is that after available grants and scholarships are taken into consideration their actual out-of pocket cost to attend some of these colleges ends up being quite a bit less than what's published.

To help students find the best bang for their buck, the U.S. Department of Education has compiled a list of the 23 colleges that offer the lowest net prices and highest potential incomes after graduation for students with a family income of $0-$48,000.

Here are some of the best options for students who have the grades but not the cash:

RELATED: How much financial aid will you get? Use this tool to get an idea.

Slides:

1. Amherst College

  a. Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $56,800

  b. Average annual net price for low-income students: $3,739

RELATED: How 7 different assets can affect your financial aid eligibility

Photo attribute: "Amherst College Main Quad" by David Emmerman - PicasaWeb. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

2. Bowdoin College

  a. Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $54,800

  b. Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,731

RELATED: 5 tips to crafting the perfect admissions essay

Photo attribute: "Buck12" by Buck Center - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

3. Brown University

  a. Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $59,700

  b. Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,104

RELATED: Surprising facts about scholarships

4. Columbia University (NYC)

  a. Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $72,900

  b. Average annual net price for low-income students: $5,497

RELATED: The new SAT: Does your dream school require it?

Photo attribute: "Earl Hall Columbia University NYC". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

5. Dartmouth College

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $67,100

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,468

RELATED: Avoid these 529 plan withdrawal traps

Photo attribute: By Kane5187 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

6. Duke University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $76,700

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,280

RELATED: Will a high school part-time job help with college admissions?

Photo attribute: "Westduke" by Smithfl - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $74,000

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,875

RELATED: How to prepare now for that first tuition bill

Photo attribute: "Tech Tower-6" by Mistercontributer - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

8. Hamilton College

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $57,300

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,245

RELATED: Will the Student Aid Bill of Rights help your family?

Photo attribute: "ElihuRootHouse1" by lvklock - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Commons

9. Harvard University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $87,200

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $3,386

RELATED: 6 steps to landing in the Ivy Leagues

Photo attribute: "Widener Library" by Caroline Culler (User:Wgreaves) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons

10. Haverford College

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $55,600

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $5,648

RELATED: 5 changes to the SAT and how parents are reacting

Photo attribute: "Haverfordfounders" by Jackbauerinvc. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $91,600

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,733

RELATED: 4 things to watch out for when applying to a top school

Photo attribute: "MIT Building 10 and the Great Dome, Cambridge MA" by John Phelan - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

12. Massachusetts Maritime Academy

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $79,500

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,519

RELATED: Being smart about recommendation letters before senior year of high school

13. Princeton University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $75,100

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $5,720

RELATED: How younger students can build a competitive profile for the Ivy League

Photo attribute: By Photo: Andreas Praefcke (Own work (own photograph))

14. Rice University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $59,900

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,960

RELATED: 100 weird scholarship ideas

Photo attribute: "McNairHall 1". Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons

15. Stanford University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $80,900

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $3,895

RELATED: How you can help your child ace the SAT or ACT

Photo attribute: "James H. Clark Center at night HDR-2" by Justin Lebar - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

16. Trinity College

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $56,100

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,874

RELATED: I won't qualify for financial aid but I still need help paying for college

Photo attribute: "Trincolllibrarysnow2003". Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikipedia

17. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $57,900

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,156

RELATED: Yes, your 529 plan will affect financial aid

Photo attribute: "UniversityofMichiganLawLibrary" by AndrewHorne - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

18. University of Pennsylvania

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $78,200

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $6,614

RELATED: Want to land a great job? Here's where you should go to school

Photo attribute: "Penn campus 2" by Bryan Y.W. Shin at the English language Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

19. University of Virginia

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $58,600

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,007

RELATED: 7 things you may not know about student loan repayment

Photo attribute: Alderman Library" by Vtn5n - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons

20. Vanderbilt University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $60,900

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,147

RELATED: 8 tips on how to make student loans work for you

Photo attribute: "CorneliusVanderbiltStatue" by Dansan4444 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

21. Washington and Lee University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $77,600

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,663

RELATED: Is online college a cheaper option for your high school grad?

Photo attribute: "2008-0831-WashingtonandLeeUniversity" by Bobak Ha'Eri - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Commons

22. Williams College

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $58,100

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $8,202

RELATED: 10 things you need to know about getting scholarships

Photo attribute: "Hopkins Observatory Williams College" by Beyond My Ken - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Commons

23. Yale University

  a.Median earnings of students 10 years after entering the school: $66,000

  b.Average annual net price for low-income students: $7,637

RELATED: 9 tips on getting into an Ivy League school

Photo attribute: "Yale School of Management Evans Hall front" by Nick Allen - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons

 

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