The Education Department study demonstrates that in many cases they are not receiving additional value for their tuition dollars.

And parents who push youngsters to get into colleges where the demands exceed their abilities put their tuition dollars in jeopardy.

Exploratory programs are becoming more popular, though, as a way to hang on to students and their tuition dollars.

The school had concerns about remaining financially solvent due to fewer tuition dollars collected.

Nevertheless, Nancy Bell, an actress who graduated in 1991, said she feared that the school would lower its standards to hold onto tuition dollars.

"Students understand whether some professor is delivering educational value for their tuition dollar," he said, and their appraisals are "scorchingly honest."

In addition, I've saved thousands of tuition dollars by coming into college with more than 20 A.P. credits.

Most boarding schools welcome foreign students because they add diversity and an international flavor as well as bring in tuition dollars.

And success begets success, increasing the pool of students seeking the most value for a tuition dollar.

But most schools are like Laudable: we need your tuition dollars.