FAQ's: Private College Financial Health & Viability
Frequently Asked questions
- How do I purchase the College Viability App? Click on the CV App link above.
- Where does the financial information come from? All data used in the App is from the National Center for Education Statistics and its IPEDS database.
- Where can I learn more? There are a series of videos posted on YouTube that compares the the financial health and viability of private colleges. Here is a link to the channel.
- Why would I need the College Viability App? There are many private colleges without the financial resources to ensure they will remain open for the 4-6 years it takes students to graduate. The App lets you easily compare which ones are riskier choices than others.
- How much does the App cost? The basic 2021 version is $47. It's important to note that choosing a college that doesn't survive can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Here is a worksheet to help you estimate how much you could lose if a college closes.
- How will I understand the information? There is a page on the app that gives you basic definition of each of the six comparisons the app provides. There is also a video tutorial here.
- Can you really predict when a college will close? Absolutely not. There is no reliable way to do that. We simply let you compare a private college's data over a 6-year period. For example, if one college you are considering had an enrollment decrease over 6 years and the other an enrollment increase, it is fair to make a judgement that one is doing better than the other. The same could apply to graduation rates. If one has a 75% graduation rate and the other is at 45%, which would you prefer? The College Viability App lets you create customized comparisons of these factors and more . It's your judgement at the end. We just provide the easy-to-use tool.