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College Bargains 2011

Colleges aren't equally generous, so before you start shopping around, it helps to know which distribute aid with a heavy hand and which don't. In the following table, compiled by PayScale, you'll find all the information you need to determine the most affordable option for you - how many students get aid, how much they get, your out-of-pocket costs each year if you don't get aid, and the discount you can expect if you do. You'll also find which schools do a good job of keeping students on track toward graduation, and which schools manage to graduate most students in four years - an achievement that can go a long way toward keeping a lid on costs. You'll also find out what alumni are earning, so if you do have loans, you'll have an idea how difficult they'll be to repay.

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Undergraduates Receiving Aid is the percentage of full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving local, state, federal, or institutional grant aid in 2008-09. Average Grant Aid is among aid recipients only. Annual Cost includes tuition and fees, room and board, books, and supplies. Total Cost is based on annual cost and the number of years students take to graduate from each institution. Net Cost is for students receiving the average grant aid award each year; the discount is the difference between total and net cost. Six-Year Graduation Rate is for the cohort entering in the fall of 2003. Graduates Who Obtain Degree Within Four Years is for graduates only. Alumni Median Pay is for full-time, U.S.-based employees without advanced degrees who obtained their bachelors degree from the institution since 1981; it includes only annual salary or wages and other cash compensation.

Data: PayScale, Integrated Postsecondary Educational Data System