Which Colleges Have the Coolest Dorms?

Business Insider: “With the price of college rising, some schools around the country are trying entice new students with apartment style living, fancy recreational facilities, and even free laundry.” For example: “All first- and second-year Santa Clara students are required to live in what Santa Clara calls, ‘Residential Learning Communities’ … The eight Residential Learning Centers each have their own theme, like ‘innovation and integrity,’ or ‘service and community.’ These themes are meant to instill a sense of community and identity to each of the dorms. For juniors and seniors, the school offers luxury University Villas, so you’ll never have to travel far to get to class.”

“By simply using an app, students living in Rice University’s dorms can save precious time … and have their clothes washed, dried, and folded at no cost. Upon move in, students receive a large anti-bacterial laundry bag with a barcode that lets the students track their clothes along their path to cleanliness … Most Bowdoin first years will initially live in underclass residence halls, but they’re all encouraged to eventually apply to one of the school’s eight College Houses. Described as ‘the living room’ of campus, the houses host social programs and mentorship opportunities throughout the year.”

“Students at Scripps College are treated to a refined living experience. Many of the ten residence halls on campus are furnished with ornate furniture and regal carpets. Some of the halls have outdoor communal areas where students can socialize around red tiled lined fountains or hang out around outdoor balconies. Several of the residence halls even have living rooms with communal pianos … Bennington takes the idea of a cramped, institutionalized dorm room and throws it out the window, opting instead for ‘houses’ of 30 to to 45 students. Each house includes a full living room, kitchen, and washers and dryers. Most of the homes even have cozy fireplaces.”

Financial Aid Can Change Over Time

MarketWatch: “Grants and scholarships are the best ways to pay for college because you don’t have to repay them. But if you chose a college because it offered you the most free money, your final bill may end up bigger than you thought.” For example: “All of the scholarships listed on your financial-aid award letter may not be available to you next year … some schools award incoming freshmen a one-time scholarship for visiting the college’s campus or interviewing with the school … Other scholarships are renewable if you meet specific requirements. These may include maintaining a particular grade point average, choosing a certain major or following the school’s code of conduct. Review your scholarships to see which are renewable, and make sure you meet their terms.”

” Typically, schools aspire to maintain overall awards from year to year … But the types of financial aid within that award may change. For example, students have higher federal student loan limits after their first year in school. To account for this, a college could replace a grant with a loan of an equal amount for your sophomore year … Other changes to your financial circumstances could lead to you losing aid altogether. For example, say your older sibling graduates or moves out of your parents’ house while you are enrolled. The financial aid calculation now sees your family as having more available income, which increases the amount you’re expected to pay out of pocket.”

“Even if you receive the same amount of aid year after year, it may feel like less because your college’s costs increased. On average, tuition and fees have risen roughly 3% annually over the past 10 years, based on data from the College Board … Planning ahead is the best way to prevent these additional costs from catching you by surprise. To help predict future tuition and fee increases at your own school, look it up on the College Navigator website.”

Colgate Replaces Student Loans with Grants

Syracuse.com: “Colgate University is launching a new ‘no student loan’ approach to tuition for qualifying families on its Hamilton campus … Starting this fall, the college is eliminating loans from its financial aid offers to all current and incoming students with a family income of up to $125,000, officials said. Colgate will offer grants to students who qualify to replace the loans, officials aid. Students and families who want to take out loans to cover the cost of books or other expenses can still do so if they choose … About two dozen other colleges offer similar programs, although they all have different family income limits. Some, such as Stanford and Yale, don’t have family income limits.”

“Colgate officials estimate half of the students receiving financial aid at Colgate will benefit. About 46 percent of Colgate students receive financial aid from the college. Funding for this new effort will initially come from the university’s operating budget, but plans are in place for this program to be funded by the college’s endowment and Colgate Fund through fundraising.”

“The average annual federal loan for students receiving financial aid at Colgate is about $2,200, and the average Colgate aid package for current students is about $53,000 a year. The average debt for Colgate students who graduated in the Class of 2019 was $15,305. The national average is about $30,000.”