You don't have to go to a big-name college to have a chance at financial aid, according to a new ranking by the Princeton Review.
Princeton Review asked 137,000 students at 382 about their satisfaction with their financial aid packages, generating a ranking of which institutions received the most favorable reviews from the students.
The average cost for college tuition, room and board at private and public institutions n 2017 was $45,370, according to CNNMoney.
In 2014–15, 84 percent of students at public 4-year institutions were awarded aid, while 90 percent at private non-profit four-year institutions were granted aid, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
The following schools, in ascending order, received the highest rankings from students:
10. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, N.Y.
Tuition: $43,250
Average freshman need-based gift aid: $19,208
Average loan debt per graduate: $21,919
About 22 percent of undergraduates borrowed through a loan program.
9. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, Wis.
Tuition: $33,523 (out-of-state)
Average freshman total need-based gift-aid: $10,922
Average loan debt per graduate: $27,831
About 46 percent of undergraduates have borrowed funding though a loan program.
8. Stanford University
Stanford, Calif.
Tuition: $47,331
Average freshman total need-based gift aid: $47,664
Average amount of loan debt per Graduate: $21,987
About 21 percent of undergraduates borrowed through a loan program.
7. Princeton University
Princeton, N.J.
Tuition: $47,500
Average freshman total need-based gift-aid: $49,870
Average amount of loan debt per graduate: $8,908
About 18 percent of undergraduates borrowed through a loan program.
6. Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, Calif.
Tuition: $24,500
Average freshman total need-based gift aid: $14,521
Average amount of loan debt per graduate: $16,986
About 85 percent of undergraduates borrowed through a loan program.
5. Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Tuition: $54,410
Average freshman total need-based gift aid: $46,243
Average amount of loan debt per graduate: $18,462
About 44 percent of undergraduates borrowed through a loan program.
4. St. Olaf College
Northfield, Minn.
Tuition: $46,000
Average freshman total need-based gift aid: $32,991
Average amount of loan debt per graduate: $27,945
About 60 percent of undergraduates borrowed through a loan program.
3. Colgate University
Hamilton, N.Y.
Tuition: $53,650
Average freshman total need-based gift aid: $48.355
Average amount of loan debt per graduate: $21,427
About 34 percent of undergraduate borrowed through a loan program.
2. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tenn.
Tuition: $$46,498
Average freshman total need-based gift aid: $42,430
Average amount of loan debt per graduate: $24,122
About 21 percent of undergraduates borrowed though a loan program.
1. Bowdoin College
Brunswick, Maine
Tuition: $51,344
Average freshman total need-based gift aid: $42,254
Average amount of loan debt per graduate: $23,120
About 27 percent of undergraduates borrowed through a loan program.
