An annual fall ritual in higher education is the release of two reports by the College Board: one about trends in college pricing, the other about trends in student aid.  If you are interested in the question “How much does college cost for students and families?” these reports will bombard you with numbers, definitions, estimates, and endless qualifiers. The most important message Continue Reading »

Copyright Allstate BCS National Championship

While many college football fans yawn at this match-up (Didn’t this already happen? And didn’t LSU already beat Alabama?), it’s one you shouldn’t miss in the College Cost series: Neither team has posted great results in any of our considering factors. LSU may approach this as a shoe-in, since tContinue Reading »

Copyright Discover Orange Bowl

Both Clemson and West Virginia pack powerful offenses – both quarterbacks finished in the nation’s top 10 in passing yards. But odds are in Clemson’s favor: the team is still riding high after securing the ACC championship for the first time in more than 20 years.

1st Quarter: Football Operating Budget

BotContinue Reading »

Copyright Allstate Sugar Bowl

Michigan and Virginia Tech fans have headed south to warmer climates to watch their favorites face off in New Orleans. As an Ohio State alum, I’m rooting for any team that plays M*ch*g*n – even if the odds are in the Wolverines favor.

1st Quarter: Football Operating Budget

Both Michigan and Virginia Tech post surContinue Reading »

© Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

This year the Fiesta Bowl hosts Stanford and Oklahoma State University. One expert has Stanford winning, but it should be close. As for our college cost analysis, this will be an interesting match-up as we see how Stanford, a private and highly selective nonprofit institution compares to OSU, a public and moderately selective public institContinue Reading »

© 2010 Pasadena Tournament of Roses

First up in our College Cost BCS is The Rose Bowl: the Wisconsin Badgers versus the Oregon Ducks. Both large public flagships, the Oregon Ducks are currently favored in the spread. This Badger is hoping for an upset, and if it can’t be for the actual game, I will take a win on the college cost front. How do the teams fare? LooContinue Reading »

It’s that time of the year again. High school seniors and their parents are eagerly, nervously, awaiting emails and envelops letting them know their college destinies. Has University X said “yes” or “no?” Which school’s magnet will go on the fridge? Which team will I cheer for in the 2012 NCAA Tournament? Today’s edition of Quick Hits features dContinue Reading »

The College Board announced today that the price of higher education increased significantly in 2009, rising faster than inflation and family income. In other news, the sun rose in the east, teenagers were sullen and uncommunicative, too much alcohol gave people false courage, and politicians told people what they wanted to hear.

Following past practice, the College Board presented the fContinue Reading »

The College Board released it’s annual Trends in Student Aid and Trends in College Pricing reports today. These are generally considered to be the definitive sources of new information on the respective topics and are chock-full of informative historical tables if you’re interested in that kind of thing. While the data itself is reliable, the College Board tends to spin the annual rContinue Reading »