High school students and their families are invited to tour Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities during Private College Week, July 11 – 16, 2016. Visitors have the opportunity to tour campuses, attend information sessions, discuss financial aid opportunities, meet with admissions counselors, and connect with current students.

“Wisconsin’s private nonprofit colleges and universities are committed to making college affordable.  The key question everyone should ask is, “which college or university is best for me?” said Dr. Rolf Wegenke, president of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU).  He noted that 99 percent of first-year students attending Wisconsin private colleges and universities receive financial aid (a combination of federal, state, and institutional aid) making out-of-pocket costs comparable to those charged to students attending public institutions.

For the eighth year in a row, the average out-of-pocket, or net tuition (price minus aid), at Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges has held steady at less than $5,500. Another important factor in keeping the cost of higher education down is the time it takes to complete a degree, and Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges are leading the way in 4-year graduation rates. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, nationally 53 percent of students who began college in 2009 finished their degree by 2015, while for Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities 70 percent completed their degrees in the same time period. The excellent 4-year graduation rates are attributed to more personalized attention, smaller class sizes, and lots of opportunities for interactive hands-on learning.

Wisconsin Private College Week participants are encouraged to take a “road trip” to find the campus that best fits their educational needs. Visiting students will be eligible to win one of two iPads, with one entry for each campus they visit.

Wisconsin’s private, nonprofit campuses include:
Alverno College, Bellin College, Beloit College, Cardinal Stritch University, Carroll University, Carthage College, Columbia College of Nursing, Concordia University Wisconsin, Edgewood College, Lakeland University, Lawrence University, Marian University, Marquette University, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Mount Mary University, Nashotah House, Northland College, Ripon College, St. Norbert College, Silver Lake College, Viterbo University, and Wisconsin Lutheran College.

To learn more about Wisconsin Private College Week or to arrange a campus visit, go to: http://www.wisconsinsprivatecolleges.org/visit.