- College students studying together in a library
FOSTER CITY, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2017) — New York has earned the No. 1 spot in the ranking of best states for college students.
The newly released MoneyRates.com Best (and worst) states for college students report dug deep into the data and used four factors to establish its top 10 list including:
• Choice of colleges and universities: This determinant is a logical one; the more choice the better chance of finding the right fit.
• Cost of attendance: For many, this just may be the most critically important of factors when choosing a college.
• Student retention: Colleges where students are transferring after a semester or two may not be the best school for you.
• Graduation rates: After spending tens of thousands of dollars a year to attend, the college you choose better be one with high graduation rates or those dollars may have been wasted.
Which states scored in the MoneyRates.com ‘10 Best States for College Students’?
• New York is number one because of choice and high retention and graduation rates.
• Massachusetts is the most expensive, but with the second best retention and graduation rates in the nation and, for a state of its size lots of choice, it landed in the number three spot.
• California boast a breadth of options for students with 260 institutions to choose from
• Pennsylvania made its mark by earning a top five ranking in three out of four categories.
• The number of choices is more limited than in most states, but Nebraska ranks in the top 10 for retention and graduation rates. Also, at $30,864, the annual cost of college is more reasonable than in most states.
The bottom? New Mexico, West Virginia, Wyoming, Alaska and Nevada made up the bottom five, based on choice, cost, retention and graduation rates. See the full details at Moneyrates.com.
In addition to the Top 10 list, MoneyRates.com offers tips on paying for college, which can average from $20,000 to $50,000 a year, including how to start a 529 savings plan, invest timely, shop around for the best interest rates on those savings and how to avoid checking account fees.
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