2013 College Cost BCS: Stanford vs. Wisconsin

The College Cost BCS, in its second year, aims to bring attention to college affordability through football’s coveted college bowl games. What if these teams didn’t play ball and instead, faced off on how well they keep education affordable? Admittedly, the teams here are not a representative sample of higher education in America (nor are they the best in college sports, ahem). They do, however, characterize a wide swath of geographic areas and student populations. So let’s have fun, and play ball!

The Rose Bowl

The main attraction on New Year’s Day is a matchup many think is ho-hum and predictable, although it will be dutifully watched by the millions who tune in every year. In Las Vegas betting, Stanford is a six-point favorite. But given its price and prestige, could it really be a contender in the College Cost game? That’s why college costs are so deceiving.

1st quarter: Student loan default rate

Both Wisconsin and Stanford see very small percentages of students (1.4 percent and 1 percent, respectively) defaulting on their loans three years after leaving school, suggesting that graduates have no problems marketing those degrees, getting paid, and using those incomes to pay off their loans. Both schools make easy touchdown drives in the first 15 minutes.

Stanford 7 – Wisconsin 7

2nd quarter: Tuition increase

The California icon increased tuition 3.5 percent, earning the team a fair field goal. Too bad they couldn’t get closer to the rate of inflation, they would have made it into the end zone. The Badgers look a little shaky with a 7.6 percent increase, but it clears the goal posts as well. It’s a tied score going into the half.

Stanford 10 – Wisconsin 10

3rd quarter: Net price

Stanford’s net price ($21,421) is much higher than Wisconsin’s ($14,940), but that’s how the ball rolls when private schools go up against public schools. Still, both schools exceed the average for their respective institution type. Fans on both sides shake their heads at this scoreless quarter.

Stanford 10 – Wisconsin 10

4th quarter: Debt-to-credential ratio

It comes down to this: How well an institution is doing not only graduating its students but graduating them with less debt. Here, Stanford pulls away, scoring a touchdown with its debt-to-credential ratio ($7,215) about $3,000 less than Wisconsin’s. The Cardinal celebrates in its home state.

Final score: Stanford 17 – Wisconsin 10

Methodology

1st quarter: Student loan default rate

• Field goal: Lower than the averages, (7.9 percent for public, four-year schools and 7.3 percent for private, four-years).
• Touchdown: Lower than average national bank card default rate, 3.58 percent.

2nd quarter: Tuition increase

• Field goal: Lower than the averages, (8.3 percent for public, four-year institutions and 4.5 percent for private, four-years.)
• Touchdown: Lower than the rate of inflation, 1.8 percent.

3rd quarter: Net price

• Field goal: Lower than the average, ($10,080 for public, four-year universities and $21,020 for private, four-years.)
• Touchdown: Lower than the first-year Stafford loan limit of $5,500.

4th quarter: Debt-to-credential ratio

• A touchdown goes to the team with the lowest ratio.

Complete details on our methodology can be found here. Also, don’t forget to see today’s other game, the Orange Bowl. And check back for the Sugar and Fiesta Bowls, as well as the National Championship next week.

Photo credit: tournamentofroses.com