While reluctant to call most college tuition, "bargains," there are, to be sure, great values to be had, even schools that charge no tuition at all. [Now that's a bargain!]

Check out the Forbes' list of America's Best College Buys, which includes both private and public colleges:

Rank Name State
1 United States Military Academy NY
2 United States Air Force Academy CO
3 United States Naval Academy MD
4 Cooper Union NY
5 United States Merchant Marine Academy NY
6 College of the Ozarks MO
7 Berea College KY
8 United States Coast Guard Academy CT
9 University of Florida FL
10 New College of Florida FL
11 Brigham Young University UT
12 Florida State University FL
13 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC
14 California Maritime Academy CA
15 Utah State University UT
16 Troy University AL
17 University of North Carolina, Wilmington NC
18 University of Georgia GA
19 CUNY, Baruch College NY
20 Appalachian State University NC
21 University of North Carolina, Asheville NC
22 University of Central Florida FL
23 SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry NY
24 University of Mississippi MS
25 University of California, Berkeley CA
26 Louisiana State University LA
27 Georgia Institute of Technology GA
28 University of California, Los Angeles CA
29 CUNY, Queens College NY
30 University of Washington WA
31 SUNY, Binghamton (Binghamton University) NY
32 West Virginia University WV
33 Western Washington University WA
34 Mississippi State University MS
35 North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC
36 East Carolina University NC
37 University of North Carolina, Greensboro NC
38 SUNY, Geneseo NY
39 University of Arizona AZ
40 SUNY, Stony Brook (Stony Brook University) NY
41 Colorado State University CO
42 James Madison University VA
43 University of Virginia VA
44 University of Mary Washington VA
45 University of Oregon OR
46 Texas Tech University TX
47 Arizona State University AZ
48 University of Colorado, Boulder CO
49 University of California, Irvine CA
50 University of Oklahoma, Norman OK
51 College of William and Mary VA
52 Oregon State University OR
53 University of California, San Diego CA
54 University of Iowa IA
55 University of Alabama AL
56 University of Wisconsin, Madison WI
57 Northern Arizona University AZ
58 Virginia Tech VA
59 Oklahoma State University OK
60 Texas A&M University, College Station TX
61 SUNY, Albany (University at Albany) NY
62 University of California, Santa Cruz CA
63 University of Texas, Austin TX
64 Virginia Military Institute VA
65 University of California, Riverside CA
66 University of Arkansas AR
67 University of California, Davis CA
68 George Mason University VA
69 Murray State University KY
70 Truman State University MO
71 Indiana University, Bloomington IN
72 University of California, Santa Barbara CA
73 University of Maryland, College Park MD
74 SUNY, Buffalo (University at Buffalo) NY
75 Auburn University AL
76 University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN
77 University of Delaware DE
78 University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE
79 University of Kansas KS
80 The Citadel SC
81 Ohio State University, Columbus OH
82 University of Minnesota, Morris MN
83 Washington State University WA
84 Missouri State University MO
85 Purdue University, West Lafayette IN
86 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI
87 University of South Carolina, Columbia SC
88 Iowa State University IA
89 University of Northern Iowa IA
90 University of Connecticut CT
91 University of Missouri, Columbia MO
92 University of Texas, Dallas TX
93 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign IL
94 Towson University MD
95 St. Mary's College of Maryland MD
96 Colorado School of Mines CO
97 Miami University, Oxford OH
98 College of Charleston SC
99 Ball State University IN
100 Millersville University PA

Of course, cost may well be relative (as in bang for your buck), and your mileage may vary. Still, the list gives a fair representation of college "buys," based upon the criteria set by the folks at Forbes (who could, in all likelihood, well afford the nation's most expensive colleges).

Whether a value or worthy of a seven-figure trust fund, finding the right college "fit," and the money to pay for it, can be a challenge. Cost is among the most significant considerations to many students -- and their parents -- and should be factored into both the decision of where to apply and where to attend.

The choice is yours to make. Make it wisely!

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer, the authors of referenced articles and websites, and such guest bloggers as may appear.
* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at College Connection. Call us for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766.