The most important question a student …show more content…
Public schools have an average tuition of $9,410 per year, while out of state tuitions can cost around $13,324. Private schools cost even more, $47,831 on average per semester, but do not change for in-state students versus out-of-state students. Belmont University, one of the premier liberal arts schools in the South and ranked #5 on Collegeboards.com, is a private institution which I am considering attending, and like most private colleges, its tuition falls in the lower median range at roughly $29,000 a year, but that “low” price still scares away many potential students. These exorbitant price tags are not even all-inclusive, as they neglect to include book costs, room and board, travel expenses, and other miscellaneous costs. In the end, many a new student entering college is responsible for paying a ridiculous sum of money for what might be a single year, or even just a single semester, leaving them in debt up to their …show more content…
After I applied and was accepted to Belmont University, the school offered an initial merit scholarship of $4,000 a semester, before adding additional funds based on my financial situation. One of the most common national grants that a student may be eligible for is the Pell Grant. It is available for undergraduate students who meet the financial needs and can amount to a maximum of 5,815 per year, for four years if the student remains qualified and chooses to reapply. Another way for students to afford college is via private corporation scholarships. Students may qualify for a variety of reasons, from academics, to personal experiences, family history, or even just depending on where a student. One of the many scholarships I have put in an application for is the Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC) scholarship, available to students who live in the service area of CEMC and as such is completely random in who is eligible and who is not. Some small scholarships are like this, whereas larger scholarships are selective and the winner is chosen based on predetermined criteria.
Of course, the most important part of college research is actually determining which college best fits you. While one school may be the best in athletics, it might