In a twist, local high school grad La has decided to go to Dallas Baptist University (DBU). This decision has been the center of attention as her dream school was, indeed, the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin). This decision is informed by an appreciation for a more place-based college experience focused on developing the individual rather than the scholarly legacy.
DBU, a private Baptist university, has an undergraduate enrollment of a little over 2,800 for the 2024 academic year. The institution’s close-knit campus community proved to be a deciding factor for La, who appreciated the support it offered. On her campus visit, La felt an instant connection that she hadn’t felt at UT Austin.
Prior to going on that tour, I had no plans to apply at all,” La said. Honestly, I didn’t give a damn. She soon found that DBU was a perfect fit with her beliefs, values and long-term goals. The moment I set foot on campus, I was overwhelmed with an incredible sense of energy. I began to experience the strong sense of community I had hoped to find at UT.
La’s decision also considered financial implications. DBU’s total cost of attendance—tuition, fees, room, board, and other expenses—is $38,340 a year. This amount almost completely undermines the base tuition price already set by UT Austin’s well-respected business school. On top of that, DBU gives out millions in grants and scholarships that can easily cut tuition costs in half. This financial relief was crucial to La as she considered her college options.
Department of Education’s College Scorecard data attests that DBU graduates enjoy the fruits of a solid, intellectually rigorous educational grounding. Consequently, 72% of these graduates make more than their counterparts with just a high school diploma. Additional research from Georgetown University estimates that DBU’s ROI climbs to around $115,000 after only 10 years. This data informed La’s understanding of the importance of selecting a school that focused on high-quality academic gains alongside real-world results.
La also recognized the value of academic prestige at UT. As she learned, her greatest concern was building a vibrant community of faith. She argued that her decision shouldn’t count against her, as making a choice to attend a prestigious, widely recognized institution for all the right reasons. I didn’t want to be able to just attend an ivy league institution and live off of the Ivy name alone. I wanted to actually thrive,” she said.
La’s decision is an indication of the larger trend among her fellow students who value finding value and giving back to their communities over the big name school. While she acknowledges the reputation of UT Austin, she feels confident in her decision: “I realized that if I want to exude myself as a high-achieving student, then I will be able to do that at DBU regardless,” she noted.
The transition from aspiring to attend a top-ranked university to choosing a lesser-known institution was not without its challenges for La. And personally, I deep down place a lot of worth on academic prestige, on the reputation of being real smart and high-achieving. So I was actually kind of ashamed to say that I chose this really little local university over one of the best schools in the country,” she recalled.
La’s decision is indicative of a dramatic shift in what future college students care about. They are now valuing community and alignment with institutional values above prestige for prestige’s sake. Her story is a powerful reminder that postsecondary education is more than a brand on a piece of paper. It’s as much about finding a place where the students’ spirit will blossom.