(StatePoint) Every parent wants to help their child choose a college that will be worth the investment. The challenge is knowing which schools are most likely to deliver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citizens is helping families answer that question through College Raptor, its college planning platform, with its 12th annual Best Colleges rankings and a new list identifying the Top 25 colleges that improve students\u2019 economic futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlanning for college is one of the biggest financial decisions families make, and they deserve a clearer picture of the return on that investment,\u201d says Bill Staib, co-founder and president of College Raptor. \u201cLooking beyond tuition and name recognition helps families find schools that support academic goals and build a foundation for life after graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
College Raptor\u2019s data science team evaluated factors including accessibility for lower-income households, post-graduation earnings, degree completion and student loan repayment to identify the schools with the strongest economic impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Topping the list are CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College, Southern California Institute of Technology and Brigham Young University. Across the full list of 25, public university systems also make a strong showing, including schools within the University of California, California State University and CUNY systems. The results may introduce families to schools they had not previously considered\u2014and offer a new lens for thinking about college value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While economic trajectory is an important consideration, it\u2019s just one perspective within the broader College Rankings. Families can also explore College Raptor\u2019s full rankings to compare schools across a variety of factors that contribute to overall fit and value, to help them make more informed decisions as they navigate the college search process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rankings are only one part of the decision. Families should also consider whether a school offers the right academic programs, advising, career support and campus culture. And when comparing costs, focus on net price after grants, scholarships and financial aid rather than published tuition alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA ranking can point families toward strong options, but the real decision comes down to what a school costs and how they plan to pay for it,\u201d says Fred Good, head of Student Lending at Citizens, one of the country\u2019s largest private student lenders. \u201cFamilies deserve trusted human guidance paired with digital tools that make a complex decision feel simpler. Paying for college is one of the biggest moments in a family\u2019s financial life, and our goal is to help them understand their options early and move forward with clarity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Citizens\u2019 College Raptor platform brings information about schools, costs and outcomes together in one place, making it easier to compare options and narrow the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n