There’s a lot of misinformation online about nonprofit private colleges, and it’s hard to put the genie back in the bottle once it’s been shared (and reshared) on social media. Below are a couple of the most pervasive myths that make the rounds every year.
 

Myth: Private college students only come from wealthy families.

Fact: Students attending our 17 colleges and universities report family incomes at every level, similar to the public universities in the state. That’s possible because 95 percent of our first-year students receive grants and scholarships that never have to be paid back.
 

Myth: Liberal arts degrees are not marketable to employers.

Fact: Our colleges provide a collection of experiences that help graduates be career ready. Employers seek the knowledge and skills our graduates have. And employers value liberal arts degrees. In a 2015 survey, more than eight out of 10 employers said students should acquire broad knowledge in the liberal arts. Private colleges support students through strong alumni networks, job fairs and career services. 
 

Myth: Liberal arts institutions don’t focus on science or math.

Fact: Our colleges are focused on the sciences and math, along with the humanities and social sciences. For example, our members award 49 percent of at all physical science bachelor’s degrees awarded in the state. We also award 35 percent of math degrees and 33 percent of all biological science degrees as well as 44 percent of all nursing degrees.
 

Myth: My GPA or ACT/SAT score isn’t high enough to get into a private college.

Fact: There’s a private college that can work for you. It’s important to realize that a wide variety of factors are used when colleges are looking at admitting students: it’s not just about GPAs and test scores. Also, how GPAs and test scores are taken into consideration varies significantly. The typical GPAs and test scores of enrolled students differ among our colleges. Plus, several of our colleges are test optional, meaning you don’t have to submit ACT/SAT scores when you apply.