Another indicator: a recent report dubbed Baruch College one of the best value institutions in the United States. First, it emphasizes its low net price of the college as well as the difference in salary benefits that the graduates. Baruch has the best average net price on this list, a paltry $2,978! This very low cost – with the robust financial return students can expect upon graduation – makes Baruch a very unique institution. It tells us that college increases graduates’ salaries by an astonishing $49,499, on average. It’s no wonder that students can pay off their net price in under two months!
This release provides powerful new evidence of the growing movement among families to place greater emphasis on value rather than prestige when choosing a college. Jeff Selingo, an education expert, remarked on this shift, stating, “They have the money, but they’re unwilling to pay for a certain level of prestige. They want to save that money for other things, including their children after they get out of college.”
Yet, while singling out one other institution with an average net price of $2,446. Earners from this institution experience a full 48% bump ($35,943) in their first-year earning potential. The students attending this large university should be able to pay off their median net price in under three months. Private college provides the next lowest average net price – $2,943. It has a high value of $34,037 for graduate salaries, with students able to retire their costs in only four months.
One other university has a lower average net price — $3,486. Graduates here will see an average salary increase of $37,007, and they usually recoup their expenses in only four months. These figures highlight the importance of affordability combined with significant economic returns post-graduation.
Baruch College’s dedication to social mobility has earned it national recognition. It ranked seventh in the nation in social mobility index rankings. Nearly half—47%—of its students are from families in the bottom fifth percentile of earners across the country. These students are able to make it into that top fifth percentile as adults. To us, this statistic is a powerful reminder of the transformative opportunities that Baruch and schools like it are able to offer.
In as small a state as Rhode Island, the College of Rhode Island offers an average net price of $3,482 but adds $29,923 to graduates’ average salary. It would require five months of earnings to cover this net price. This period of time helps to ensure that it remains competitive with other housing and non-housing institutions.
As families look at what’s out there today, the focus on value is growing stronger by the minute, mile, and dollar. More than ever, students are choosing schools that provide good value and great results without mountains of debt.