Best Values Rankings: Frequently Asked Questions

How can I negotiate a better financial aid package? Many schools are willing to reconsider their first offer, especially for a student they really want. Most say they reconsider only if presented with new information, so you will definitely want to contact the aid office if you can come up with ways your financial situation has changed since filling out the forms. Your father might have been laid off or perhaps your grandmother has become ill and your parents are contributing to her care, for example.

A more direct approach is to ask one school to meet or beat the offer of another. Some schools invite students to notify them if they have received better packages from other schools. Whatever their rationale for seeking increased aid, families should avoid using the word negotiate in their discussions. The term irks many college aid officers: Even though aid officers negotiate regularly, use of the term directly contradicts their ability to assert that they don't.

What's the best way to find out about scholarships? There are dozens of books in the library and sites on the Web devoted exclusively to scholarships. They will tell you how much money is available, who qualifies, and how to apply. It is generally considered a waste of money to pay a scholarship search service to uncover information that you can find yourself with a little digging. U.S. News offers a comprehensive online scholarship search free of charge.

What are "best values"? These are schools that are above average academically and cost considerably less than many other schools when the financial aid that they dispense, in the form of need-based grants and scholarships, is taken into account.

How are the best value rankings determined? These rankings are based on three variables: the ratio of quality to price, the percentage of all undergraduates receiving need-based scholarships or grants, and the average discount.

We considered only universities and colleges that finished in, or near, the top half of their categories in the U.S. News America's Best Colleges 2010 edition rankings. Why? U.S. News believes that the best values are found among colleges that are above average academically.

What does "discount price" mean? It's the amount a student and his or her family actually paid after receiving scholarships or grants based on financial need in the 2008-2009 academic year. The scholarships or grants are the money that is free to the student or his or her family—money that they don't have to pay back.

Where do the data for the best value rankings come from? They are supplied to U.S. News by each school.