Our mission is to bring together disparate bodies of data to produce a more holistic (but also focused) view of which colleges are likely to be the best value for the money. We end up with one number, an Affordability Score, with two main parts, a “Getting In” score and a “Getting Out” score.
We use these two measures because we think that most of the resources about college affordability focus too narrowly on the cost of getting to college. We think it’s just as important to look at what happens when you get out. Do students get out with degrees? Or do they drop out halfway through with a bunch of credits they still owe money for? And once they’ve gotten out, are they able to repay their student loans?
We approached the College Affordability topic from two angles: first, we compiled a list of the most affordable schools for low-income students by state and subject (our methodology – http://www.collegeaffordabilityguide.org/methodology/),
and second, we developed in-depth financial aid resources for current students.
We also provide a comprehensive guide to financial aid, including federal aid, public and private loans, grants, payment plans, and more. We made sure to include information for many different types of students (undergrads, grad students, returning veterans, etc.).
http://www.collegeaffordabilityguide.org/financial-aid/
http://www.collegeaffordabilityguide.org/financial-aid/how-to-pay-for-graduate-school/
Also an Advice for transfer students, including an overview of the process for each type of school, understanding articulation agreements, getting the most out of your credits, and more.
http://www.collegeaffordabilityguide.org/transfer-credit/
Type of Opportunity: Resource