The Career/Transfer Center is hosting the Spring College Fair March 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Campus Center Mall. The college fair happens once each semester.
“We usually have about 40-50 regionally accredited four–year universities represented at each. Our local CSU, UC and private institutions are routinely represented,” Raul Sanchez, career/transfer center coordinator said.
“Some of the names of the campuses include Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Fullerton, CSU Los Angeles, CSU San Bernardino CSU Long Beach, UC Riverside, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, University of La Verne, Azusa Pacific University, USC [and] Whittier College,” Sanchez said.
Community college and high school students looking to pursue higher education are increasingly taking into consideration the price tag when shopping for their university of choice.
According to a College Board report titled Trends in College Pricing 2012, tuition at four-year public colleges has increased 104 percent over the last 10 years.
Nearly 46 percent of students have said that the cost of tuition along with available financial aid are “very important” when choosing their university according to a UCLA study.
College tuition rates are increasing at more than twice the rate of inflation. As a result, many students have decided to opt out of their first choice universities to take better financial aid packages.
Location as well as ranking and academic reputation are among the other factors in a students decision to attend a certain college.
Colleges and universities that are able to reduce their tuition and fees, or increase financial aid packages, may have the edge.
To attend Azusa Pacific University as a freshman costs $31,416. Living on campus is an additional $4,326.
“It can be intimidating just looking at cost of attendance,” said Josh Waldon, assistant director for transfer recruitment for APU. “But the transfer process is extremely easy.”
APU decreases the cost by offering transfer scholarships and first-time freshman scholarships to those who qualify.
Other colleges are relying on their aesthetics and high academic standards to keep students interested.
High school seniors and college transfer students “should take the time to explore universities, even if [they] have one in mind look at several,” said Tim Lynch, senior communications coordinator in the office of public affairs at Cal Poly Pomona. “Crunch the numbers and ultimately see what you can afford.”
Cal Poly Pomona has a hands on learn by doing philosophy. “Every program we have we make sure that our students have the hands on experience they need,” Lynch said. “You’re not a number here.”
Cal Poly Pomona costs an estimated $15,000 a year. The cost is a accumulation of $5,472 tuition plus $656 mandatory university fees and a $222 student success fee.
Representatives from CSU’s, UC’s and private or out-of-state universities will be at the college fair to answer questions regarding transfer admission as well as financial aid information.
“Students love the event because it provides an opportunity to research various colleges & universities and get personalized attention from university representatives,” Sanchez said.
