Again this year, Forbes says that a Catawba College education is well worth its cost. Forbes contends the proof of that is in the giving.
Catawba was one of only six institutions in the Carolinas making Forbes’ Grateful Graduates Index 2014. The Index ranks the best long-term value, or return-on-investment (ROI) of the top 100 private, not-for profit colleges enrolling more than 1,000 students.
In addition to Catawba, other institutions in North and South Carolina making the 2014 Index include Davidson College, Duke University, Wake Forest University, Wofford College, and Furman University. Catawba was also among institutions included in Forbes’ inaugural Index in 2013.
The formula for the Grateful Grads Index gives a 20% weighting for alumni participation rates, or the percentage of graduates who donate each year to their colleges. Using data from the Center For Aid To Education, the Index calculates the average alumni participation rate by using the best three of the last four years. Any school with an average alumni participation rate greater than 30% automatically got full credit in the ranking.
Index creator and Forbes staffer, Matt Schifrin, wrote, "The idea is that the best colleges are the ones that produce successful people who make enough money during their careers to be charitable and feel compelled to give back to the schools that contributed to their success."
Catawba's 10-year median for private donations, according to Forbes' Grateful Grads Index, was $7,239.21, with its average alumni participation rate of 20%.
Schifrin, of Forbes, who serves as managing editor of investing, markets and personal finance, developed the Grateful Grads Index. View the 2014 Index.
