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"There are so many colleges to choose from," she remarked. "I'm just trying to find a college that has what I want right now. I'm a senior and it's hard to figure out what I want to do before I graduate."
Affordability is becoming one of the main concerns for high school seniors with the current economic climate, according to college admission counselors. Last Thursday, Warrenton High School students had the opportunity to begin mapping out their future.
According to figures published by the College Board's Trends in College Pricing, the current average yearly price for a four-year private college is $26,273. In comparison, a public four-year university costs $7,020, while a public two-year community college is $2,544.
College representatives caution students about viewing the published yearly tuition and other fees, such as housing, meal plans and books. The net price, they say, is significantly lower once a student receives financial aid, grants and other scholarships.
"I tell them don't look at the sticker price until you get your total financial aid package," said Amy Marek, of Westminster College. "When you buy a car, you don't go to the lot and say, 'Well, that is what it is and that is what I'm paying.' You're looking for rebates and incentives."
The yearly cost to attend Westminster College in Fulton is $25,000, including room and board, according to Marek. At Culver-Stockton College, located in Canton, the institution recently announced it was freezing costs for the 2010-11 school year at $29,950 for tuition, housing and a full meal plan.
Those prices pale in comparison to public schools within the state, such as Missouri Western State University and Missouri State University where the overall costs are around $12,000 and $13,000, respectively.
"We are actually cheaper than what some (students and parents) expected," said Emily Trammell of Missouri State University.
In this current school year, more than $168 billion in financial aid was available to students and their families, according to the College Board report. It's that type of funding that can make schools such as Westminster and Culver-Stockton an affordable option, representatives from both colleges emphasize.
Also making the decision harder for area high school students is the increased marketing techniques used by colleges. Colleges are leaning on alumni, current students and staff to sell the value of attending a certain school, said Rob Meldrum of Culver-Stockton.
Along with cost, he said students need to select a college based on the quality of education and how they fit with the campus lifestyle.
"I think cost is a concern any time you look at a private school," Meldrum said. "We try to show it's not the only factor when choosing a school. There are many, many factors. We encourage everyone to visit before they make a decision based on costs."
Some of the indecisiveness regarding selecting a college has benefited area community colleges, particularly East Central College and St. Charles Community College, who offer a cheaper solution compared to four-year institutions.
The two-year schools provide an opportunity for freshmen to take care of their core class requirements at a smaller setting. In addition, students can take advantage of using their A+ funding. They are allowed to attend a community college within the state and get the majority of their education paid for, including tuition and common fees paid for by all students. One of the few expenses not covered is books.
"It's a very, very good deal," said Megen Poynter of East Central College.
Gathering all the information can become an exhausting search for students. For senior Micah Johnson, who plans to major in engineering, he has a few schools at the top of his list. Regardless, a final decision can wait for now. "It will happen when it happens," he said. "I don't want to give myself a deadline and settle."
