This report aims to provide key decision-makers, including school administrators, faculty, trustees, legislators, and parents, with authoritative evidence on how our colleges are performing in helping students acquire the knowledge needed to participate responsibly in public life. The following questions of accountability are provided in the hope that they will help inspire constructive engagement leading to positive changes in college curricula.
1. Are Parents and Students Getting Their Money’s Worth from College Costs?
With the increasing cost of college, students and parents are justified in asking: Are we getting our money’s worth?
If they believe a college education ought to increase a student’s knowledge of America, then for many schools the answer is no. The survey revealed a pattern parents and students should consider before borrowing money to attend a pricey school: The more expensive a college, the less students learn about America, other factors remaining the same.
The College Board estimates the average out-of-state cost for a fouryear public college is $22,743. (The average out-of-state cost for the 50 colleges surveyed here was $21,986.) Given this price tag, it is not surprising that, according to The College Board, Americans now owe nearly $69 billion in federal student loans and $17.3 billion in private student loans. Parents and prospective students who will face such debts might want to consider:
| EXPENSIVE, POORLY PERFORMING COLLEGESThese colleges have a “sticker price” greater than $30,000 but rank among the bottom 10 for civic knowledge gained by students. | |||
| College | Sticker Price* | Rank by Civic Added | Civic Value Added |
| University of Pennsylvania | $34,156 | 41 | +0.83% |
| Duke University | $33,963 | 48 | -2.25% |
| Yale University | $33,030 | 49 | -3.09% |
| Princeton University | $33,000 | 46 | -1.70% |
| Cornell University | $32,981 | 50 | -4.95% |
| * 2005 tuition and fees, or out-of-state cost, as reported to The College Board | |||
| LESS EXPENSIVE, BETTER PERFORMING COLLEGES These colleges have a “sticker price” less than $15,000 but rank among the top 10 for civic knowledge gained by students. | |||
| College | Sticker Price* | Rank by Civic Added | Civic Value Added |
| University of Mississippi | $10,560 | 10 | +7.45% |
| Mississippi State University | $10,560 | 6 | +8.36% |
| St. Cloud State University | $11,673 | 5 | +8.59% |
| Murray State University | $13,566 | 3 | +9.12% |
| Eastern Connecticut University | $13,570 | 1 | +9.65% |
| Illinois State University | $14,730 | 8 | +8.19% |
| * 2005 tuition and fees, or out-of-state cost, as reported to The College Board | |||
- Four private colleges surveyed that cost more than $30,000 per year—Cornell, Yale, Duke, and Princeton—reduced civic knowledge.
- Five public colleges that cost less than $15,000 for out-ofstate students—Mississippi State, St. Cloud State, Murray State, Eastern Connecticut State, and Illinois State—increased civic knowledge by eight points or more.
- Two Connecticut schools epitomize the contrast. Yale cost $33,030 and reduced civic knowledge by 3.09 points. Eastern Connecticut State cost $13,570 and increased civic knowledge by 9.65 points.
- Marian, Concordia, and Pfeiffer are private colleges that cost less than $19,000 and increased students’ civic knowledge by more than eight points.
