WilliamsCollege

Recent graduates from private colleges and universities walked away from commencement with an average of $28,100 in student debt, according to The College Board. But not every school leaves its alumni so far in the hole.

Job insecurity and tanking retirement portfolios and 529 Plans have some families rethinking their college applications strategies.Bloomberg reports that applications are down at seven of the eight highest-rated liberal arts colleges in the country. Williams College was the hardest hit with an...