don't trust the sticker price!

College is expensive, and unfortunately is getting worse by the year. BUT many colleges, aren't really as expensive as they seem. The sticker price you see when you google "college x tuition" is not always what it would really cost you to attend said school. 

Example A-
Messiah University's total cost (including dorm, meal plan, etc.) for the 2020-2021 school year is $49,590. Yikes, right? Also remember, they are a Division III school so they do not offer athletic scholarships. If you dig a bit deeper into their financial aid (check it out here) you'll find that the average 2020-2021 freshman student received $27,614 in financial aid (grants, scholarships, etc.). This means that Messiah could possibly only cost you $21,976/year to attend. To compare - Shippensburg, a Pennsylvania state school about 45 minutes from Messiah, costs $22,540/year to attend for in state residents. 

Example B- 
Mount St. Mary's University's total cost (including dorm, meal plan, etc.) for the 2020-2021 school year is $57,280. They are a DI school, so they do offer athletic scholarship. IF a DI school is fully funded (most in the Northeast are not) they have 12 scholarships to split up between an average roster of 20-25 athletes so you cannot rely on athletic scholarship even at DI or DII schools! The class of 2023 at Mt St Mary's University has an average financial aid package of $30,866, which could possibly bring the cost for you down to $26,414. (Check it out here.) 

The moral of the story? Consistent good grades and solid test scores (SAT or ACT) matter more than your athletic ability when looking for scholarship money to help pay for college. This was true before COVID, during COVID, and will still be true after COVID!