<p>I don’t know about you, but for those of us paying cash, cheaper is cheaper. Rice’s tuition for 2010-2011 academic year is approximately $5,500 less than Emory. It’s also more than $6,000 less than Wash U.</p>
<p>[Modest</a> 2010-2011 tuition rate approved by Board of Trustees](<a href=“http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT/stories/2010/02/15/tuition.html]Modest”>Modest 2010-2011 tuition rate approved by Board of Trustees)
[The</a> Rice Thresher - Tuition hike inflicts financial burdens](<a href=“http://www.ricethresher.org/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=d58c665f-1c9e-49a6-b858-60f74bd74a11]The”>http://www.ricethresher.org/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=d58c665f-1c9e-49a6-b858-60f74bd74a11)</p>
<p>But you’re right, it’s just one factor to consider. The OP mentioned that merit aid and cost were important factors in her son’s college search. For those reasons, the availability of merit aid coupled with the lower tuition is significant.</p>