More expensive schools: Are they better?

It’s not unusual to think that the more you pay for something, the better it will be. But that’s not necessarily the case with a college education. A "big name" university may be impressive, but really, there's much more to college than that.

Plus, there’s also the big question of how far into your future do you want to pay for your college years? When you think about it, there are probably many things you might want from college which you simply can’t put a price tag on. And you could very easily find them at a reasonably priced school.

What do you want from college?

Here’s a small sample of experiences and opportunities that students say they want to gain from their first four years in college. Take a look over them and check off the ones you feel apply best to you.

 Learning from professors whose experience and knowledge will broaden my perspective

 Enjoying a good social life and meeting new people

 Studying new things that can enrich my life

 Developing expertise in an area I’m really interested in

 Learning to live independently

 Finding out what truly does and doesn’t matter to me

 Building new skills for a career

 Getting involved in recreational activities (sports, arts, clubs) where I can develop new skills and interests

 Making contacts that could help me later on in life

 Finding friends or even a life partner

Now ask yourself: “Could I get these experiences at a lower cost school?”