Rev. James J. Maher, president of Niagara University (NY), writes: With smaller class sizes (20 on average), meaningful engagement with faculty and mentors, real-world opportunities, smaller student bodies (60 percent of independent, not-for-profit colleges and universities in NYS enroll fewer than 2,000 students) and comparatively positive outcomes (high graduation rates and excellent employment statistics), the relative cost of going to a private college or university is favorable to families.