Latest news with #RobertFranek
CNBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
As some colleges near the $100,000 mark, these nine schools have free tuition
With more families concerned about how they will afford college, some schools are offering an unbeatable deal. While the total cost of college is nearing or crossing the $100,000 threshold at several institutions across the country, according to data provided by The Princeton Review, tuition is completely free for all students at handful of other colleges and universities in the U.S. Although paying this tab is easy, getting in may not be. Each of these schools has high academic standards, experts say — and in return for a degree at no cost, the commitment they require, even after graduation, is steep. More from Personal Finance:These college majors have the best job prospectsStudent loan forgiveness may soon be taxed againStudent loan borrowers — how will the end of the SAVE plan impact you? Tell us "This is a self-selecting group in a lot of ways," said Robert Franek, editor in chief at The Princeton Review. Yet "it gives some hope for parents who worry about making college affordable — these colleges are doing just that." For those up for the challenge, The Princeton Review compiled a list of the colleges that cost nothing. Here are the nine schools that don't charge tuition at all. For over 150 years, this small school in Berea, Kentucky has strived to reach first-generation and low-income students who otherwise could not afford to pay for college, according to the school. But it doesn't stop there: Berea gives every student a laptop and funds to cover internship opportunities and even professional clothing for job interviews. Dubbed "Hard Work U," College of the Ozarks is a coed Christian school in rural Missouri geared toward serving students in the Ozark region. In return for a full scholarship, undergraduates must work 15 hours a week, plus two 40-hour weeks during the academic year as part of the school's work program. Only 12 to 15 students are admitted each year to this all-male liberal arts college in California's remote High Desert, according to the school. However, every student is awarded a scholarship that covers tuition and room and board. Since Deep Springs is a two-year school with no majors, many graduates go on to transfer to four-year programs to complete a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. In addition to free tuition and room and board, students receive a stipend to cover all other costs at this academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado. In exchange, the academic and physical demands are rigorous, according to The Princeton Review, with classes from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. followed by fitness training multiple times a week. After four years, graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Air Force or U.S. Space Force and commit to several years of active duty. This New London, Connecticut-based academy is also highly selective and demanding, according to The Princeton Review. The extremely structured four-year program, which is fully paid for by the government, offers 10 academic majors, including civil engineering and marine science. After completing their schooling, students commit to five years of service, although many opt to stay in the Coast Guard for much longer, the academy says. Tuition, room and board, uniforms and books are similarly covered at this service academy in Kings Point, New York. As part of the four-year program, cadets gain hands-on experience working aboard commercial and military vessels around the world. Once they graduate, midshipmen can enter any branch of the armed forces as an officer. The service obligation varies depending on what type of job they choose. Every cadet at this prestigious institution in West Point, New York receives free tuition and a scholarship that covers room and board, in addition to a stipend for uniforms, books, supplies and all other expenses. Armed with a BS degree, West Point graduates then serve at least five years of active duty and three years in the reserves and are "ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and nation," according to the academy. All students on campus, known as "the Yard," in Annapolis, Maryland, receive a full scholarship that covers tuition, room and board and other costs, in return for at least five years of active duty after graduation, followed by the reserves. After their rigorous training, many midshipmen go on to have prominent careers within and outside the military, according to The Princeton Review. Founded by the shipbuilder William Webb, this small, private college in Glen Cove, New York specializes in naval architecture and marine engineering. Every student receives a full scholarship to cover tuition and, along with little to no debt, they benefit from a 100% job placement rate upon graduation, according to the school.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Princeton Review ranks top US universities for financial aid in 2025: See the full list here
As college costs continue to rise across the United States, the 2026 edition of the 'Best Colleges' guide by Princeton Review ranks the top 10 US colleges offering the most generous financial aid. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The rankings are based on surveys from 170,000 students during the 2024–25 academic year, assessing how much financial aid is awarded and how satisfied students are with their packages. According to the data, some top-ranked schools offer average need-based scholarships exceeding $70,000, significantly lowering out-of-pocket expenses for students. The rankings take into account institutional grants, student satisfaction, and the overall affordability of college despite high sticker prices. Financial aid helps lower actual costs Although the total cost of attending college has reached new highs—nearing or crossing the $100,000 threshold at several US institutions—most families are not paying the full price. According to Sallie Mae's 'How America Pays for College' report for the 2024–25 academic year, the average amount families spent was closer to $31,000. The report found that, on average, parent income and savings covered about half of the cost, while scholarships and grants accounted for over a quarter. The remaining costs were largely covered by student loans. Chris Ebeling, head of student lending at Citizens, stated that families need a 'multipoint plan' that involves more than just savings or debt, as reported by CNBC. Robert Franek, editor-in-chief at Princeton Review, told CNBC that 'there are buckets of resource dollars available,' pointing to institutional aid offered by many universities in addition to federal and state support. Top 10 Best Schools for Financial Aid Rank Private Schools Public Schools 1 Williams College – Williamstown, MA (2,101 students) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Chapel Hill, NC (21,075 students) 2 California Institute of Technology – Pasadena, CA (987 students) New College of Florida – Sarasota, FL (852 students) 3 Yale University – New Haven, CT (6,814 students) University of Michigan—Ann Arbor – Ann Arbor, MI (34,454 students) 4 Reed College – Portland, OR (1,346 students) University of Virginia – Charlottesville, VA (17,901 students) 5 Pomona College – Claremont, CA (1,766 students) Truman State University – Kirksville, MO (3,265 students) 6 Vassar College – Poughkeepsie, NY (2,462 students) CUNY—Hunter College – New York, NY (18,758 students) 7 Washington and Lee University – Lexington, VA (1,886 students) University of Wisconsin-Madison – Madison, WI (39,083 students) 8 Carleton College – Northfield, MN (2,128 students) University of California—San Diego – La Jolla, CA (34,955 students) 9 Kenyon College – Gambier, OH (2,228 students) Michigan Technological University – Houghton, MI (6,022 students) 10 Grinnell College – Grinnell, IA (1,788 students) University of Georgia – Athens, GA (31,514 students) As reported by CNBC, Franek stated that these schools 'understand the pain points that families have in general and it is around cost, cost, cost.' TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us .
CNBC
12-08-2025
- Business
- CNBC
This year's top 10 colleges for financial aid, according to The Princeton Review
For the first time, the total cost of college this year is nearing or crossing the $100,000 threshold at several institutions in the U.S. Although the price tags are shocking, few families pay the full tab. As of the 2024-25 academic year, the amount families actually spent on education costs was closer to $31,000, on average, according to Sallie Mae's annual How America Pays for College report. In most cases, parent income and savings cover about half of college costs, Sallie Mae found. Free money from scholarships and grants accounts for more than a quarter of the costs and student loans make up most of the rest. "You really do need to have a multipoint plan, and it's not just savings and not just debt," said Chris Ebeling, head of student lending at Citizens. More from Personal Finance:Education Department launches FAFSA sooner than expectedFamilies feel confident about paying for college, until tuition bills arriveStudent loan borrowers: How will the end of the SAVE plan affect you? Tell us When it comes to applying for financial aid, "there are buckets of resource dollars available," said Robert Franek, editor in chief at The Princeton Review. Beyond federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Education and state aid, many schools offer their own grant or scholarship funds. To that end, The Princeton Review ranked colleges by how generous these awards are and how satisfied students are with their packages. The 2026 edition of the company's "Best Colleges" guide is based on data from surveys of 170,000 students during the 2024-25 academic year. Sticker prices are based on the upcoming school year. The colleges and universities that ranked the highest on The Princeton Review's list not only deliver on assistance, but also on addressing concerns about college affordability head on, Franek said. "These schools understand the pain points that families have in general and it is around cost, cost, cost," he said. At Amherst College, for example, the sticker price for 2025-26 is $93,090 a year — including tuition, fees and room and board — but the average need-based scholarship is $71,342, which brings the total out-of-pocket cost down to $21,748. At other schools in the top 10, the out-of-pocket costs are even lower. 1. Washington and Lee UniversityLocation: Lexington, Virginia Sticker price: $86,730Average need-based scholarship: $67,220Total out-of-pocket cost: $19,510Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 100% 2. Franklin W. Olin College of EngineeringLocation: Needham, MassachusettsSticker price: $84,278Average need-based scholarship: $56,968Total out-of-pocket cost: $27,310Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 99% 3. Washington University in St. LouisLocation: St. Louis, MissouriSticker price: $92,932Average need-based scholarship: $70,607Total out-of-pocket cost: $22,325Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 100% 4. Princeton UniversityLocation: Princeton, New JerseySticker price: $86,668Average need-based scholarship: $73,711Total out-of-pocket cost: $12,957Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 100% 5. Reed CollegeLocation: Portland, OregonSticker price: $89,843Average need-based scholarship: $52,382Total out-of-pocket cost: $37,461Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 100% 6. Amherst CollegeLocation: Amherst, MassachusettsSticker price: $93,090Average need-based scholarship: $71,342Total out-of-pocket cost: $21,748Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 100% 7. Lafayette CollegeLocation: Easton, PennsylvaniaSticker price: $87,318Average need-based scholarship: $49,603Total out-of-pocket cost: $37,715Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 100% 8. Columbia UniversityLocation: New York, New YorkSticker price: $89,425Average need-based scholarship: $73,702Total out-of-pocket cost: $15,723Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 100% 9. Rice UniversityLocation: Houston, TexasSticker price: $87,047Average need-based scholarship: $66,070Total out-of-pocket cost: $20,977Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 100% 10. Gettysburg CollegeLocation: Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaSticker price: $85,640Average need-based scholarship: $48,573Total out-of-pocket cost: $37,067Average share of need met for first-year students with need-based aid: 90%
