Updated: Apr 21, 2023
Are college rankings important?
Learn how important college rankings are, along with additional criteria you can use to help you decide where to apply for college with Discover Student Loans.
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There is more to a degree's value than the price tag. Here's how to evaluate the costs and benefits of different schools.
In some ways, choosing a college can be a lot like shopping for a car. There's a wide range of prices, cost doesn't necessarily match up with quality, and the sticker price isn't identical to what you end up paying. College costs can vary wildly based on where you go to school, but unlike a car, college is an investment in your future. You'll be spending lots of money, as well as years of your life, attaining a degree, so you want to know what kind of return you can expect from that investment before you accept.
A lot of factors go into the final cost of your college education. When you're thinking about what a school will actually cost you, consider:
The other major factor to consider, besides the price tag, is what you'll get in return.
Ultimately, you want to figure out which school is the best value for you. There's a lot to take into consideration, and evaluating schools can feel overwhelming. My College Plan is a tool that helps you take your future for a test drive. You can use it to compare different schools, majors, and careers. It shows you what different schools cost and how that might affect your student loan debt down the road, and even helps you see how the choices you make might affect your potential salaries post-graduation.
Gathering all the necessary info, and truly understanding the costs and benefits of each school, is the first step in making your college decision. Tools like My College Plan can help you fully understand all of your options, and the possible returns they could help you get on your investment in your education.