It is not just tuition along with room & board that are cost considerations of a college education. Here are two other items Marc and Gary talk about.
Almost everyone assumes their student will graduate in 4 years. Yet only 43% of American 4-year public and private colleges graduates students in 4 years. Every additional year needed adds additional costs. It also leads to . . . .
Opportunity costs: If a student can't start earning a post-degree income in 4 years that is lost income they will almost certainly never recover. Students and parents are best served to consider if a college is historically graduating students on time. At College Viability, we use a minimum threshold of 50%. If a college you are considering doesn't graduate at least half of its students in 4 years, consideration of colleges that do may be in order.
What is Kitchen Table College Chats?
We all know that choosing a college is one of the biggest investments your family will ever make, but it doesn't have to be the most stressful. Each and every episode, we pull up a virtual chair to cut through the jargon and tackle the real-world questions about admissions and finances and even the financial health and viability of colleges.