The number one misconception that families just beginning the college search process have is that a private college education is unaffordable. This can cause families to unnecessarily write off private colleges before they even begin the college search. So much media coverage is focused on the cost of tuition at Ivy League schools and other elite institutions that many people are left with only a vague idea about what a good private education costs.

In Kentucky the average private college published tuition and fees was just under $19,000 last year. That may sound like a lot, but the national average for private colleges was over $26,000. And very few students pay that published “sticker price.” Once you figure in financial aid a private college education is affordable. Most students receive some combination of grants and scholarships that substantially lowers the amount they actually pay. (We’ll talk later about the different types of financial aid – federal, state, and institutional – that students attending Kentucky independent colleges receive.)

When you’re just beginning your college search it’s important to look beyond the published sticker price, or even the average net cost after financial aid is applied. It’s important to think about the value a particular school offers you. Will you learn better from professors who know you personally or in large lecture classes? Is a small campus environment going to help you meet your potential and prepare for the next step (whether that is a job or graduate school), or would you rather be part of a larger campus? What is it worth to have access to the classes in your major, study abroad, internships, caring faculty, and a much better chance to graduate in four years?

These are just some things to think about as you begin your college search. There will be more. But for now, forget about cost and explore your options, because you can be assured that Kentucky’s private colleges are a good value.