This is the seventh tip within our Affordability Tips series. From reading the previous tips, you know we recognize and respect the size of the college investment you and your family are considering. Now, after focusing so much of this series on dollars, the very best advice we can give you is to choose the college that's best for you. There are three things you should be clear about.
 
First, no college can claim to be the perfect place for you. You bring your own special set of interests, passions and goals to the campus. In the words of the poet, Mary Oliver, "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" At Northland we care about things like that.
 
Second, no two colleges are quite alike. Different programs. Different campus communities. And very different outcomes. If you're unsure about how Northland is different, spend a few minutes speaking with your counselor at (800) 753-1840 or explore online at northland.edu/outcomes. You'll find information that compares the college experiences of Northland graduates with those of other institutions. How well does that match up with the ways you learn best? More important, you'll find differences related to the lives and careers of our graduates. Are these differences important to you?

Third, when we surveyed Northland graduates of the past 30 years, they almost never talked about how expensive it was. Virtually all said it was a worthwhile investment, that it was important in shaping their careers and lives. Northland may or may not be your least expensive college option...and that shouldn't matter. Northland may or may not be the best fit for you...and that REALLY matters. The point is that finding the best fit isn't about cost...it's about the value you receive for the investment of your time and dollars.
 
Don't settle. With this decision "good enough" isn't.