Some of the most highly rated colleges in the United States are private or independent schools. This column has heralded the value of public education in California in recent months, but many terrific private and independent colleges in our state deserve a serious look.

The first thing parents notice about a private college is the cost. Private colleges are often two or three times more expensive than those in the California State University or the University of California systems.

So why would anyone ever elect to enroll there? There are several good reasons:

• A personal education – Private colleges usually have smaller class sizes and offer a more intimate learning environment. Professors have the luxury of getting to know their students, which often inspires more creative thinking. This provides a safer, more comfortable learning atmosphere where students are encouraged to ask questions and get individual help from instructors.

• Majors and programs – There are some innovative majors and programs available at private colleges. For example, University of the Pacific in Stockton offers an undergraduate pre-pharmacy major that provides admission into the school's professional pharmacy program in five-, six- or seven-year options. Most other colleges offering pharmacy as a major require students to earn a bachelor's degree first and then apply to the graduate pharmacy program.

Private colleges frequently have few impacted majors. Any nursing student in California knows the challenges of a lottery system when trying to get into a nursing program. Public schools do not guarantee admission into the nursing major but instead offer a pre-nursing major to college freshmen. Private colleges, such as Dominican University in San Rafael, put admitted freshmen directly into the nursing major.

• Values taught – Some private universities are faith- or values-based. William Jessup University in Rocklin is a Christian campus, and students are expected to practice Christian principles, both on and off campus. Students at a Christian campus find professors who combine faith with teaching and share their beliefs with students.

If a campus is of a religious affiliation, students should be sure to clarify the expectations associated with the university. For example, the dress code might be different at a conservative faith-based campus than at a public college. The faith-based college might require participation in religion classes or chapel services.

Some religious-affiliated colleges have no requirements for religious participation, and students might be surprised to find that a large percentage of students are not of the college's sponsoring religion. St. Mary's College, a Catholic faith-based school in Moraga, integrates the five "Lasallian core principles" – such as respect for all persons – into teaching. While all students are encouraged to embrace these values, only 52 percent of the college's enrollment is Catholic.

• Finish in four years – Private and independent colleges boast high percentages of students completing their undergraduate degrees in four years. For students in a major, such as nursing, this can make the additional cost of private school less costly than spending two or three years in a public school lottery trying to get into an impacted major.

• Financial aid – Private schools are significantly more expensive, but they frequently offer larger financial aid packages, making them very affordable for students who file for federally funded financial aid. As state-funded college tuition continues to climb each year, private schools have not kept up with the increased costs at the same pace.

Plus, when you consider the access at private colleges to majors that are impacted in public schools, spending a few dollars more for four years might actually be less expensive than spreading public school expenses over five or six years.

A private or independent school college education should never be overlooked as students explore the best fit for their educational goals.

To learn more about California independent or private colleges, visit www.aiccu.edu/ Compare/links.asp or www.californiacolleges.edu.

Cindy Cutts, director of the College and Career Center at Rocklin High, can be reached at smartcollegeplanning@ yahoo.com.