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A Case for the M.I.A.C Why the schools of the Minnesota
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference are still a value!
by Coach Steve Mathre
The college your son or daughter
chooses will shape their future profoundly. Many things will play
a role in their success. The ability to think critically and
creatively, to communicate effectively, and adapt to a changing world
are not automatically the byproducts of a college degree. These abilities develop as a
result of the quality of education your son or daughter receives. It
is more important than ever to look at college as an investment.
Simply put, the better your child's education, the better their
opportunities.
In these days of sky rocketing
educational costs, it is nice to know the private schools of the
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (M.I.A.C.) are still a
value. Small classes, financial aid, outstanding career placement, the
ability to graduate in four years, and a commitment to the liberal
arts all make a private college education in Minnesota a great buy.
Unfortunately, some families never
consider a private college because of the "price tag." It is
important to note that the listed cost of tuition is not necessarily
what a family actually pays. A student's motivation, academic record,
and values are more important to an Admissions office than their bank
statement. The average comprehensive cost of attending a Minnesota
private school is $17,686, yet 29% of its students come from families
with annual incomes under $30,000, and 71% from families earning under
$70,000 per year. What’s more, 75% of students receive financial
assistance. Last year the average aid package totaled $12,000.
The MIAC is an NCAA Division III
conference and as a result does not offer athletic scholarships;
however its teams consistently compete at high levels. Students who
choose an MIAC school understand athletics can still play a role in
their education, without dominating the educational experience. Each
year many talented student athletes turn down offers from Division I
and II schools for a liberal arts education, devoid of the added
pressures and intense time demands athletic scholarships can bring.
For these students, MIAC schools offer the opportunity to continue
excelling at the sport(s) they love, but in a balanced environment,
where education comes first.
Recent studies show most students
take five, six or even more years to finish college. Not at
Minnesota’s private colleges. The percentage of students who
graduate in four years is 58%, which is 2-3 times higher than
Minnesota public universities. Big-Ten
universities have a four-year graduation rate of only 36%. Finishing college in four
years translates into saving big money and moving on to graduate
school or a good paying job that much sooner.
When it comes to finding a job,
taking advantage of internship opportunities and personalized career
counseling is invaluable. MIAC schools have excellent career placement
services, tailored to the individual, helping graduates go on to
fulfilling careers with many of Minnesota’s and the world’s top
companies, including Dayton Hudson, 3M, Cargill and Honeywell, among
others. In addition, students excel in education, law, medicine,
public service and hundreds of other fields. 93% of all Minnesota
private college graduates are either employed or in graduate school
within one year after graduation, with 31% going on to earn advanced
degrees.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of a
Minnesota private school is its size; individual attention is at the
core of private college education. Each student is treated as an
individual, not a number. The
average student/teacher ratio is sixteen to one, with each class
taught by an expert in their field, not a graduate student.
Additionally, these students come from all ethnic and economic
backgrounds, from all 50 states and from dozens of countries around
the world. MIAC students of color have more than doubled in the last
ten years with Minnesota private schools educating 30% of all students
of color who go on to a 4-year college in Minnesota.
There is no "best" college
for everyone. Small or
large, public or private, the best college depends on what’s right
for the individual. Fortunately the schools of the MIAC still hold
tremendous opportunity and value for many student athletes. The next
time you talk with your son or daughter about their college plans, you
just might ask, "Have you checked out the schools of the MIAC?
I’ve heard you can have it all.”
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