Recently, USA Today published a list of the best value colleges in the country, taking into account factors such as quality of teaching, class sizes and average post-college earnings. Interestingly at the top of the list were some of the most expensive colleges in the country! So is college really worth the expense?

Before I go any further, you can see the site for yourself here.

It’s no secret that the cost of attending college has increased over the last few years. According to the College Board website, in-state colleges are now 37% more expensive than they were ten years ago. The average total charges for fees, tuition and other costs are just over $14,000 for in-state students and around $25,000 for out of state undergraduates.

Is this considerable expense worth it? Before I went to college I also asked myself this question : will four years of my life, and several thousand dollars actually earn me a better career and salary than if I went straight into work?

The simple answer is – yes, if you choose wisely. If you are focused on earning the maximum you can as a graduate, then you’ll need to do some groundwork first. Applying to the right college is crucial; another reason the ‘best value’ colleges study is useful.

Let’s have a look at some statistics first:

This data from the US Census Bureau shows that the average earnings for a graduate are indeed far higher than high school graduates. Professional degrees (which may not take as long as PhD’s) will net the largest salary, but even an Associates degree should give you an edge over high school graduates.

Tips for choosing the best value college

#1. Be clear about your career path from the outset

This is of course, easier said than done. However, having a good idea of the job you eventually want to find yourself in is a good way to secure a good-value education. Knowing this can help narrow down schools significantly. Use the resource shown below to find the best schools by career.

#2. In-State vs. Out-of-State

It’s true to say that studying in-state will save you tuition fees. And if you live at home, you’ll be saving even more money. However, an in-state college may not be the right one for you. Consider studying further afield if it means a college that’s better suited to the career you want. In other words – don’t  be fooled by cost. Some of the most expensive colleges in the country are considered ‘best value’ by the Princeton Review.

#3. Narrow down, weigh up.

Using one of the free resources from the college-finder guide can help you get a list of colleges that are best suited to you. You should be able to generate a list of colleges that meet your needs, and then you can narrow down the list by process of elimination.

The next step, once you’ve narrowed down your list, would be to compare them on the best value website and weigh up your options. If one college is clearly not pulling its weight in the value-stakes, you could decide to eliminate it from your list.

The site is basically another resource you might want to use when you’re trying to find the right college.

This site is great if you know the kind of career you want, but haven’t found the right college yet. It’s free to join, and you can search through hundreds of colleges. Also provides a lot of information on the best professions and possible earnings.

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