I just finished reviewing the UCAN
website hosted by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). Per their press materials and website (I have bolded phrases for emphasis):
"More than ever, as tuition continues to grow, families are focused on getting the best value for their dollar. The first step is finding the right information to make the right college choice. To this meet this challenge, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) has developed U-CAN (the University and College Accountability Network), a free, consumer-informed college information Web site. For the first time, institutions of higher education have come together to develop and deliver key college information directly to consumers. With U-CAN, we will take an important step toward better educating consumers, and fostering student satisfaction and success."
This is one of the EASIEST sites I have ever seen for getting key information! The summary pages are visually appealing and simple to use. It is easy to see how many students come from where, how many graduate, how many return after the freshman year, etc. This is the key information with the option to click through to details like the surrounding area resources!
But I have not yet gone through each listing to see how each college lists the Total Cost of Attendance (COA). So far, almost each one I looked at played "fair" . . . . BUT some are still are playing "hide the COA"!!
Sadly, one of my local colleges -- California Lutheran College (Cal Lu) -- did not list the COA. It listed only percent of freshman receiving aid. I hope this is an oversight and NOT a deliberate attempt to hide their COA from prospective families!
Again, I applaud NAIC for a GREAT website. But I continue to CHASTISE and RANT at those colleges who do NOT simply state their COA clearly and simply. To hide the COA, omit it, only provide tuition, or to provide after-aid averages is DECEPTIVE and beneath the dignity of an institution of higher learning!
Please let me know what you think about this issue of hidden COAs.
