Finding the right deal

Common question from Mom and Dad of a high school senior: how do we find the best deal? Striking a balance between good program, good value, affordability, and somewhere that Junior wants to attend can be tough.

Here then are a couple links that can help you begin the process of at least understanding which schools may make sense to look at. Note that these are not listings of scholarships, just of different schools and programs you can take advantage of as long as you apply.

Western Undergraduate Exchange. Discounted tuition at participating schools in participating states. You're out of luck if you're from the midwest. Or the East. But that's why they call it what they call it.

Unique out-of-state tuition discounts. We know of quite a few, but here are some of the more blatant ones:

New Mexico State - if you're a transfer student, they'll let you go at in-state rates.

Kent State - They are pretty interested in you if you are from one of the neighboring states to Ohio, or if you're from California.

Montana State - Where Craig Kilborn went to school. Big discount if your scores are good. Discounts even if your scores aren't great.

Know more? Want us to post them? Send a note to info@usphere.com.

And you'll also find this story, posted Sunday afternoon by the Associated Press, of interest.