A college education promises academic enrichment, personal empowerment, and strong career outcomes. The decision to attend college is one of the most important choices a person can make. However, where to attend and what program to pursue are also key considerations.
Many students center the college selection process around career-driven concerns, but another crucial factor is worth considering. That is, whether to attend a public or a private college. Both experiences can be valuable, but some students may be better suited to the intimate environment of a private institution. However, many aspiring students struggle to discern the difference between private and public college and may let misconceptions about private education skew their decision.
If you are struggling to navigate this decision-making process, we’re here to help. We’ll discuss common concerns while answering important questions such as: Are private colleges better, and how much do private colleges cost? We will also reveal a solution that promises the best of both worlds: selecting private colleges with low tuition. Keep reading for a nuanced take on the public vs. private college debate.
What Are Private Colleges?
Private colleges are not defined by the cost of tuition, by the size of the student body, or by the number of academic programs available. Their definition is simpler. These are higher education institutions that do not secure their primary funding from the state government. While they are often smaller than public institutions, they can vary greatly in both the size of their student body and the scope of their academic programs.
Differences Between Private and Public Colleges
Most students intuitively recognize that public and private schools are different, but they often struggle to understand the financial realities that underscore these differences. Southeast Michigan’s Metro Parent explains that the “major difference between a public and private college is that they’re funded differently.” In addition to relying on tuition and fees, these institutions may secure funding from alternative sources such as endowments, known as pools of funds, which may go toward everything from faculty salaries to scholarships.
Other differences are not necessarily built into the structure of private colleges but may relate to funding sources or even the central missions of these institutions. For instance, because private colleges often rely on endowments, they may be less equipped to scale up and may instead focus on maintaining a smaller and more intimate learning environment.
Misconceptions About Private Colleges
Through the years, private colleges have acquired a strong reputation for providing excellent instruction and a supportive environment that helps students from all walks of life thrive. Unfortunately, these colleges also suffer many misconceptions. These may be shaped by portrayals on TV, in the movies, or even on social media. That said, it’s important for potential students to understand that such perceptions do not always ring true and that no two private colleges look exactly alike.
Private Colleges Are Always More Expensive
At first glance, the sticker price of attending a private college may appear quite a bit higher than public counterparts. This does not necessarily reflect the actual cost of attendance, however, as many private college students benefit from generous scholarships and other financial aid programs. These can have a dramatic effect on tuition rates and may even help students cover additional expenses such as housing.
Beyond this, it’s important to remember that tuition rates can vary dramatically between private colleges. Through endowments or strategic funding allocations, some private colleges can maintain lower tuition fees, sometimes even rivaling those charged by public institutions.
Private Colleges Are Only for Wealthy Students
Due to the sometimes-higher sticker price attached to certain private colleges, potential students mistakenly assume that these are only available to students from high socioeconomic backgrounds. But this is far from the truth with many colleges offering generous scholarships and grants to ensure that students from all economic situations can reap the rewards of a private education. What’s more, private colleges with low tuition may be accessible to students even before scholarships or financial aid enter the picture.
Private Colleges Offer Fewer Academic Programs
Many private colleges feature smaller student populations, and for those seeking a close-knit community, this is a central part of the appeal. Insights from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) suggest that the average four-year, non-profit private institution maintains a median enrollment of 1,209 students.
A smaller student body can create an intimate environment that helps students feel connected and supported. Often, skeptics assume that this approach limits academic opportunities. In reality, the size of a particular college’s student body has little to do with the breadth of its academic programs. It is entirely possible for a small school to maintain dozens of academic programs staffed by highly esteemed faculty members, but each of these programs may have fewer students or smaller classes.
Private Colleges Don’t Have the Same Prestige as Public Universities
Public colleges tend to attract the bulk of the attention, in part due to their sheer size. However, this does not necessarily mean that these colleges are superior. In reality, some of the world’s most prestigious institutions are privately run. Others, although not as well-known, deliver a high-quality education by maintaining low student-to-faculty ratios and by offering innovative and highly-immersive educational opportunities.
Private Colleges Are Only for Liberal Arts Students
When many people picture private colleges, they think of sophisticated surroundings and humanities courses, imagining swanky students studying philosophy or literature. It is true that liberal arts represent a significant achievement of the private college approach. Graduates credit these programs with expanding their perspectives and fostering a deep appreciation of diverse subject matters.
That being said, private colleges also provide wonderful opportunities for many other types of students, including those seeking technical or career-driven programs. Many colleges promise a blend of both general education and electives to broaden students’ horizons and technical programs to equip them with career-oriented skills. From information systems to supply chain management and even diesel service technology, these programs can help a wide range of students meet their goals.
Average Cost of Private Colleges vs. Public Colleges
As mentioned, many misconceptions regarding public vs. private college attendance involve a basic question: Are private colleges more expensive? There is no simple answer, although tuition prices and scholarship opportunities can help students determine the potential cost of a college education:
Average Private College Tuition
While scholarships and other financial aid sources can significantly reduce the cost of attention, it is important to remain mindful of the base cost of tuition. According to NAICU, net tuition and fees for private schools averaged $14,630 for the 2022-2023 school year, actually representing a significant decrease compared to tuition rates in 2012.
Baker College Tuition
Baker College emphasizes cost-effective education, including full transparency regarding tuition and fees. While there are some program-specific differences, the general cost of full-time undergraduate attendance (assuming 30 credits per year), is $13,500.
Average Public College Tuition
Tuition expenses can vary dramatically between public colleges, depending largely on how much state funding these institutions receive and whether they are categorized as research universities, state schools, or community colleges. In-state and out-of-state attendance can also influence the cost of tuition. It is more affordable for students to attend colleges based in their home states, or colleges in states with relevant reciprocity agreements.
The College Tuition Compare database, using data from sources like the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the U.S. Department of Education, reports the average cost of in-state education is $6,990, while out-of-state students pay $14,184 on average.
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition represents just one of many potential expenses that students must consider. Living costs also matter, and, again, these can vary considerably between different campus communities. The aforementioned College Tuition Compare reveals a nationwide average of $15,683 per year for on-campus living. Combined with tuition, this means that on-campus students may pay more than $20,000 to attend public college in-state, or more than $30,000 for out-of-state college experiences.
Baker College Cost of Attendance
On-campus experiences can be transformative, but combined with tuition, can feel financially out of reach for many students. This is where Baker College shines as the resident hall housing rate is just $2,300 per semester, which is well below the average. Food, transportation, and personal expenses can elevate the cost of living, but Baker College’s Financial Aid Cost of Attendance suggests that, between living expenses and tuition, the total cost of attendance (before implementing scholarships or grants) maxes out at $26,900 per year.
Financial Aid and Scholarships at Private Colleges
Many private colleges offer robust scholarship programs, often funded by the aforementioned endowments. Scholarships may be awarded on the basis of need, merit, or some combination of the two. Other sources of financial aid are also worth considering, with everything from grants to loans and even work-study programs available.
Private Colleges Often Offer More Generous Financial Aid
Although private colleges tend to maintain a higher sticker price for tuition and fees, this is accompanied by more extensive financial aid opportunities. Awarded on the basis of academic merit or financial need, these scholarships can reduce the cost of attendance by several thousand per year. This ultimately minimizes the gap between the overall costs of attending a public or private college.
Types of Financial Aid Available
Financial aid can take many forms. Scholarships tend to attract the most attention; these do not need to be repaid and are often based on merit or talent. Grants also do not need to be repaid but are often provided based on financial need. Other opportunities include work-study programs (which help students earn money through part-time positions) and loans, which will eventually be repaid (with interest).
Available Aid at Baker College
Baker College offers several sources of financial aid, which, alongside a general commitment to maintaining affordable tuition, can keep costs low for many students. Many students even qualify for the BeFree Tuition Guarantee, which covers standard tuition costs. Other promising examples of aid include:
- First Generation Scholarships, available when students’ parents have not attended college.
- Transfer Platinum and Gold scholarships, designed to facilitate a seamless transfer process.
- The Presidential Scholars Award, offered on the basis of academic merit and campus citizenship.
Net Price Calculator
Net price calculators can provide valuable insight into the total cost of attendance. This is a must for understanding the influence not only of tuition and fees, but also of scholarships and other forms of financial aid. As previously mentioned, details about attending private college in Michigan can be secured through Baker College’s Financial Aid Cost of Attendance guide.
Are Private Colleges Worth the Cost?
There is no one ideal college pathway, as both public and private colleges have much to offer. Take a closer look at the realities of attending these different types of institutions, however, and it quickly becomes evident that, for many students, private colleges are worth the potential increase in tuition (even though such increases are not always guaranteed). Top advantages worth considering include:
Smaller Class Sizes and Personalized Attention
In addition to maintaining smaller student bodies, many private colleges can ensure each individual class will be smaller and feel more personable. These can vary between programs and campuses but often, private college students take classes with fewer than 20 students. At Baker College, for instance, many campuses maintain averages of well under 15 students per class. This ensures each student receives more attention and has more opportunities to enjoy meaningful interactions with faculty members.
Specialized Programs and Resources
Many private colleges are driven by distinct missions, which relate closely to their program offerings and tailored resources. For example, many private colleges offer unique academic programs that may not be available through public colleges. Additionally, private colleges often expose students to high-level research opportunities or real-world experiences, even at the undergraduate level. Meanwhile, specialized resources enhance career development, networking, and student enrichment.
Higher Graduation and Retention Rates
While a dynamic college experience can be valuable, the ultimate goal is to graduate and to earn a degree. Strong support can help them achieve this important end. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reveals an average six-year graduation rate of 64% among students attending four-year programs that grant bachelor’s degrees. However, graduation rates at non-profit, private colleges are higher, coming out on top at 68% of students graduating in six years.
Retention rates also matter. These reveal whether students ultimately stay put for the full duration of their academic journey, or whether they ultimately transfer to other colleges. According to NCES data, retention rates tend to be higher at private, nonprofit colleges than at public colleges.
Return on Investment (ROI)
There are many ways to explore the ROI of a public or private education, but many people look to both immediate wages and life-time earnings for insight. In general, it is clear that college provides a strong ROI. For example, results from the 2023 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) suggest that respondents with a bachelor’s degree are more likely to report strong financial well-being than those with lower levels of education.
ROI is determined not only based on whether students attend college, but also, based on how they leverage this opportunity and whether they graduate. Private colleges can enhance this ROI by fostering a more supportive environment, in which students can weather academic challenges and emerge feeling confident in their abilities and in their future.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Private Colleges
The decision-making process certainly doesn’t get easier upon choosing to attend a private college. With more than 1,700 private, nonprofit colleges in the U.S., options abound. Still, a little self-reflection can go a long way when narrowing down this long list of options. Often, this decision centers around a few key factors, as identified below:
Academic Goals
Do you feel drawn to a particular subject or career path? Verify that potential private colleges offer programs that will help you meet your long-term goals. Keep in mind that your college objectives need not be purely career oriented. You could also establish academic goals that relate to your desire to explore specific subjects or embrace new perspectives. A close look at the curricula should reveal whether specific programs can help you develop the specific skills or knowledge relevant to your future plans.
Class Size and Learning Environment
In general, private colleges maintain smaller class sizes than their public counterparts. As you examine your options, look for details on class sizes and student-to-faculty ratios. Keep in mind that smaller classes often facilitate more personalized attention.
Student experiences are not entirely shaped by the sizes of the classes they attend, however. Much depends on how and where instruction is delivered, such as on-campus, online, or hybrid formats. The teaching methods used by faculty also matter. For instance, lectures offer different learning outcomes compared to labs or other hands-on experiences.
Campus Resources and Networking Opportunities
Coursework matters, but much of the value of the college experience centers around the robust networking opportunities that this unique environment provides. Few other situations or circumstances allow people to interact so extensively with passion-driven individuals who hold similar goals and values.
Don’t assume that a smaller campus will lead to fewer networking opportunities. In reality, the opposite can be true. Smaller classes may lead to stronger and more authentic connections, which can be leveraged long after graduation. Similarly, many private colleges offer extensive campus resources, including everything from tutoring and academic advising to mental health counseling and even life coaching.
Cost Beyond Tuition
As you plan for tuition and financial aid, be mindful of additional costs, as these may actually exceed tuition rates. Student housing, dining plans, and books add up quickly, for example. Look at net price calculators and budget estimates to determine the total cost of on-campus attendance. Be sure to also examine program-specific fees, which may go above and beyond standard tuition.
Comparing Private Colleges in Michigan
Michigan Independent Colleges & Universities highlights 25 nonprofit institutions that serve 65,000 students throughout the state. These colleges share a commitment to empowering students and preparing them for success in their personal and professional lives, but how they pursue this core objective can vary considerably. Take a close look at program offerings, curricula, student resources, and net price calculators to determine which college best aligns with your unique goals and preferences.
Start Your Degree at Baker
There are many wonderful private colleges in Michigan, which offer exciting chances to learn and grow. If you are on the hunt for an affordable, career-driven education — and a wonderfully supportive environment — consider enrolling in one of the many promising programs at Baker College. Reach out today to learn more about our top offerings, including financial aid opportunities.