September 2010 Counselor News
As you start to advise students on college plans in the coming year, we want to remind you about Minnesota’s private colleges. Financial aid makes our colleges more affordable than your students may think, the variety of majors we offer may surprise them and our student outcomes are impressive. Here are some updates about our colleges and the latest research.
The latest numbers show that Minnesota Private College Council member institutions have the highest graduation rate in Minnesota with 64% of students graduating in four years (compared to 39% at the U of M and 21% at MnSCU institutions). Taking longer than four years drives up the cost of tuition, increases borrowing and delays income. Read the article
Students jumpstart the college search process during Minnesota Private College Week
Nearly 4,000 high school students visited our 17 campuses this past June during Minnesota Private College Week (MPCW). They attended short introductory sessions that included campus tours and admissions briefings. Students also discovered that MPCW is a great way to zero in on what they’re looking for in a college. Encourage your students — especially sophomores and juniors — to plan to attend the 2011 event, scheduled for June 20-24. Read more about MPCW.
The link between higher education and higher incomes is reconfirmed with the latest data in a new research brief. College degree holders in Minnesota see their wages grow faster and plateau at a higher level than Minnesotans with less education. See what the data show and what local experts say about the findings. Read the article.
Grant aid is important when it comes to our institutions’ affordability. Although the list price for a college education continues to rise, the amount our students actually pay has declined from 57% to 51% of the published tuition price between 2000-01 and 2008-09. In particular during the current economic downturn, our colleges are focused on helping meet students’ financial needs. Read the article.

