Colleges that Invest More Per Student

Hey all, I hope you're doing great. I recently came across this concept of colleges spending per student, and I'm trying to understand its exact implications. Would these colleges provide better services, resources, and opportunities for their students, or is it not that significant of a factor when deciding where to apply?

When evaluating colleges, the amount a college spends per student can be a useful indicator of the level of resources, services, and opportunities they're able to offer their students. This number often includes things like faculty salaries (which can affect the quality and amount of faculty), upkeep and expansion of campus facilities like libraries and research labs, student services and support (tutoring, career services, health services etc.), and academic and extracurricular programming.

For example, a college that spends a higher amount per student on faculty salaries might be able to attract top-tier professors who are leaders in their fields. This can give students the opportunities to work with and learn from those who are influencing the future of their potential disciplines. In addition, colleges that spend more per student on facilities may have more modern and up-to-date labs and equipment, leading to a better student experience and potentially more opportunities in research and hands-on learning.

Similarly, a higher spend per student on support services might signal that a college is committed to making sure students have the resources they need to succeed, whether that's academic support like tutoring, mental health resources, or career services. Schools with more spend on student services might be more prepared to provide personalized attention and support to students, which can significantly affect a student's experience and success.

That being said, while spending per student can be a useful factor to consider, it's also important to note that it's not the only factor to look at when evaluating colleges. It can be a proxy for all of these different elements (quality faculty, facilities, student support), but it doesn't necessarily guarantee that those elements will align with a specific student's needs and goals.

So, when considering colleges, it's a good idea to also look at factors such as the university's academic offerings, placement rates, campus culture, location, and financial aid policy, among other things. Finding a college is about finding a balance of these factors that best fits your needs. For instance, even if a college spends less per student overall, it might offer a top-ranking program in your field of interest or have a supportive community that fits your needs. Think about your priorities and use the college's spending per student as one of the many tools you use to evaluate your options.