Affordable Seven Sisters colleges?

Junior year and I’ve just started looking at colleges. I'm really interested in the Seven Sisters colleges in particular, but I'm a bit worried about costs. Which one is the least expensive but still highly respected?

Even though the sticker price appears high for Seven Sisters colleges, many of them offer generous need-based aid, and some even offer merit scholarships. Here's an overview of the cost of attendance and financial aid policies at the Seven Sisters colleges:

1. Barnard College: The estimated cost of attendance is about $95,700, but Barnard meets 100% of the demonstrated need of all its students. They do not offer merit scholarships.

2. Bryn Mawr College: The estimated cost of attendance is about $81,750. Like Barnard, Bryn Mawr meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. They also offer a limited number of merit scholarships.

3. Mount Holyoke College: Attendance costs roughly $86,702. Mount Holyoke meets 100% of the demonstrated need. They offer both merit and need-based aid.

4. Smith College: The cost of attendance is about $82,134, but Smith meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all students who get in. They also offer some merit scholarships.

5. Wellesley College: The estimated cost of attendance is around $83,050. Wellesley provides 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students and it does not offer merit scholarships.

6. Vassar College: Attendance costs about $83,610, but Vassar meets 100% of demonstrated need. Like Wellesley, they do not offer merit scholarships.

For a point of reference, the original seventh sister school, Radcliffe College, was absorbed in 1999 by Harvard College and now offers programs in advanced study.

While these figures might seem alarming, remember that these are costs "before" financial aid, which can significantly reduce the burden. The best way to estimate the actual cost for you is by using each college's net price calculator, which gives an estimate of your financial aid package, including grants, work-study, and loans. This will provide you with your likely contribution, and can often be more indicative than just the tuition headline number.

All Seven Sisters colleges are highly respected, so don't worry too much about rankings or prestige when making your decision. Focus on fit and affordability for you. Good luck with your college search!