SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) Every parent wants to help their child choose a college that will be worth the investment. The challenge is knowing which schools are most likely to deliver.
Citizens is helping families answer that question through College Raptor, its college planning platform, with its 12th annual Best Colleges rankings and a new list identifying the Top 25 colleges that improve students’ economic futures.
“Planning for college is one of the biggest financial decisions families make, and they deserve a clearer picture of the return on that investment,” says Bill Staib, co-founder and president of College Raptor. “Looking beyond tuition and name recognition helps families find schools that support academic goals and build a foundation for life after graduation.”
College Raptor’s data science team evaluated factors including accessibility for lower-income households, post-graduation earnings, degree completion and student loan repayment to identify the schools with the strongest economic impact.
Topping the list are CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College, Southern California Institute of Technology and Brigham Young University. Across the full list of 25, public university systems also make a strong showing, including schools within the University of California, California State University and CUNY systems. The results may introduce families to schools they had not previously considered—and offer a new lens for thinking about college value.
While economic trajectory is an important consideration, it’s just one perspective within the broader College Rankings. Families can also explore College Raptor’s full rankings to compare schools across a variety of factors that contribute to overall fit and value, to help them make more informed decisions as they navigate the college search process.
Rankings are only one part of the decision. Families should also consider whether a school offers the right academic programs, advising, career support and campus culture. And when comparing costs, focus on net price after grants, scholarships and financial aid rather than published tuition alone.
“A ranking can point families toward strong options, but the real decision comes down to what a school costs and how they plan to pay for it,” says Fred Good, head of Student Lending at Citizens, one of the country’s largest private student lenders. “Families deserve trusted human guidance paired with digital tools that make a complex decision feel simpler. Paying for college is one of the biggest moments in a family’s financial life, and our goal is to help them understand their options early and move forward with clarity.”
Citizens’ College Raptor platform brings information about schools, costs and outcomes together in one place, making it easier to compare options and narrow the field.
Families can explore the full Top 25 Colleges That Improve Students’ Economic Futures ranking at: https://www.collegeraptor.com/college-rankings/details/CollegesThatImproveStudentsEconomicFutures.
“Choosing a college comes down to a mix of priorities that will look different for everyone,” Staib adds. “Looking at academic fit, cost and long-term outcomes together can help families make that decision with greater confidence.”
