CU students are getting their bang for their buck, according to the Princeton Review.
CU was recently named a “best value” school by the Princeton Review based on an assessment of the school’s academic quality, financial aid availability and overall tuition costs.
The Princeton Review examined 650 institutions of higher education, both public and private, and compiled a list of 100 schools that represent the greatest value for students. The University of Virginia was the highest ranked public school.
According to the Princeton Review’s Web site, 79 percent of undergraduate students at CU receive at least some financial aid and the in-state tuition is about $6,000.
However, tuition for students at CU is much more expensive for those who live out of state. Out-of-state students at CU comprise of 31 percent of the general population and pay approximately $22,000 in tuition.
Opinions about the value of CU vary greatly from student to student. Some students say they feel CU is over-priced and under-funded, while others agree that this university has a lot to offer at a reasonable price.
“I feel that I’m getting my money’s worth,” said Carter Jake Bergen, a senior history major and in-state student. “I have to work very hard for scholarships and financial aid. I pay for my own education and I need to work and get a high GPA.”
Despite the dramatic increase in tuition for out-of-state students, some students say they still feel CU is a great value.
“I think CU is worth it,” said Caitlin Talbot, a senior communication and political science major. “Out-of-state kids get out of CU what they want; they wouldn’t pay that much if they didn’t. Also, Boulder is an ideal location for a school and the quality of life here is very high.”
There may be other reasons why CU is considered to be a great value for out-of-state students. Higher education budgets are getting slashed at public universities around the country, and with an economic recession, more students are looking for schools that offer educational value at an affordable price.
Even the out-of-state tuition for CU students is still less than most private schools, making CU an attractive alternative to students who do not want to attend their home state’s public universities or private institutions.
Junior anthropology major Carling Bemis said the price tag of California’s public universities played a role in her decision to attend CU.
“California public universities are getting more expensive, and that influenced my decision to come to CU,” Bemis said.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Allison Doyle at Allison.doyle@colorado.edu.
