While top colleges may have high price tags, they are often much less expensive for students from low-income backgrounds to attend than other institutions for a student whose end goal is receiving a bachelor’s degree. Selective colleges, such as QuestBridge college partners, have large endowments and can guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, which is the difference between the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution. Public colleges and many lower-endowment private colleges generally do not have the resources to cover all demonstrated need.

Comparing college costs

Below are the sample costs of three different pathways to a bachelor's degree:*

• Path A: Community college + two years at four-year in-state, public college
• Path B: Four-year in-state, public college
• Path C: QuestBridge college partner

In this image, we see the real cost for a student and their family at each of these three colleges. The real cost is the Family and Student Contribution + loans + the unmet need. 

• Path A: $9,119
• Path B: $16,694
• Path C (QuestBridge college partner): $2,000

Even though Path C may initially appear to be the most expensive, the amount that the student's family is responsible for after financial aid has been applied is far less than the other two pathways.

The differences are even greater when you take into consideration that the costs for both Path A and B are calculated for in-state students, so they will be much higher if someone is applying from out of state. This example also makes the assumption that a student, upon receiving an associate’s degree, will go on to a 4-year college to receive their bachelor’s degree. In the U.S., only 16% percent of students who hold an associate’s degree go on to attain a bachelor’s degree, while graduation rates at many of the QuestBridge college partners, such as the QuestBridge college partner in this example, have consistent graduation rates above 90% because of the support and resources they have to encourage retention and graduation. 

*Costs and aid estimates were sourced in 2024 using the Net Price Calculators on individual sample institutions in Texas. Figures used have been rounded to the nearest hundredth. 

Financial benefit of top colleges

If a student submits the FAFSA form, they can expect to receive the same federal aid at every college they are admitted to as long as the college participates in the Federal Student Aid Program. However, a selective private college, such as a QuestBridge college partner, would be able to provide enough additional aid to meet the student's remaining financial need. When a college is not able to meet a student's demonstrated financial need, the total cost they have to pay is the Expected Family Contribution plus the unmet need.

Despite the overall price tag of a school, a QuestBridge college partner for which a student only has to pay the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the less expensive option. There are a number of top schools with financial aid policies that require no parental contribution under a set income level.

Generally, all colleges require students themselves to make a student contribution, even non-QuestBridge college partners. This often comes in the form of work-study or summer work contributions. The amount can vary, depending on the school. For most QuestBridge college partners, the amount ranges from $1,500 to $5,500. So, even if a family has a very low income and consequently no parental contribution, the student will still be expected to contribute to their own education. There are many opportunities to earn money to cover the student contribution, such as having a work-study job on campus or finding outside scholarships.

Additional financial aid resources

For more information about financial aid terminology, please see our Financial Aid Overview and Financial Aid Glossary. To explore the cost of attending a QuestBridge college partner based on your family's specific financial circumstances, consider filling out their individual net price calculators.