<p>You should find the endowment/student ratio to show that LACs have enough money and the Payscale study should be good enough to show that LAC graduates can get good jobs. Otherwise, tell her to look at the SAT score ranges of some LACs and ask her if she thinks all those students (and their parents) are throwing their lives and money away by going to a LAC. LACs wouldn’t exist if they couldn’t deliver. You could also find the phd admit data, which is chock full of LACs, to demonstrate that clearly graduate programs consider LACs to be capable of preparing a student.</p>
<p>Specifically for Mudd you might have an easier time convincing her due to Mudd topping several lists, but it’s certainly true the average person hasn’t heard of it. But its presence on the Payscale and phd admit lists should indicate that industry and grad programs know what Mudd is capable of. As for financial aid, they meet nearly all need based aid and has some merit aid. I didn’t know Cal gave full rides, unless it’s entirely need based?</p>