In the past few years, with the economy either in recession or struggling to recover from it, public colleges have experienced increases in applications from students seeking a quality education at a reasonable cost.

But budget crises in many states have meant funding cuts at most public universities, making it more difficult for students to get into popular state schools and resulting in larger classes and reduced services.

Tuition at public schools is increasing more quickly than at private colleges.

While some public universities offer scholarships, often using them to attract nonresident students who will still pay higher tuition than residents, some students are finding that private colleges are a financially viable option with many benefits.

In an effort to avoid losing students to lower-cost public schools, private colleges have been increasing merit-based aid in recent years, with 36 percent of private colleges awarding scholarships or grants based on merit.

In 2010, the average tuition discount rate reached a record high of 42 percent among private colleges, meaning families are paying 58 percent of the regular tuition rate.

While the Ivies and other elite schools put their resources into need-based rather than merit aid, many highly selective colleges that are competing for top students do offer scholarships.

Merit scholarships are especially helpful in attracting students whose families don’t qualify for need-based financial aid but are unable or unwilling to pay more than $50,000 a year for college.

These scholarships are very competitive, and students need to have outstanding academic records and test scores.

Prospective students may be required to write additional scholarship essays and to be interviewed on campus. Some scholarships also consider demonstrated leadership and community service.

Other colleges offer guaranteed scholarships, so if you have a specified grade-point average and test score, you will get a scholarship.

Students who are National Merit Scholarship finalists are guaranteed scholarships at some schools.

If you have reasonably good grades and test scores and are willing to consider colleges that are not as well-known, you are likely to end up with some scholarship offers. Scholarships are generally renewable for three additional years, as long as you maintain the required grade-point average.

If you don’t qualify for a scholarship, that doesn’t mean you have to pay $50,000 a year to attend a private college.

According to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, which represents more than 1,600 private schools including traditional liberal arts colleges and major research universities, the average annual tuition and fees at four-year schools was $27,293 last year.

Again, being open to schools that are not as well-known or locations that you hadn’t previously considered will be helpful in finding lower-cost colleges.

While some private colleges may offer larger classes, in general you are more likely to find a student-centered environment, more meaningful interactions with professors and more access to support services at a smaller private college than at a large public institution.

Though applying to colleges where you are likely to qualify for merit-based aid is the best way to lower the cost of attending a private college, you can also apply for private scholarships offered by businesses and by civic and religious groups.

You need to go beyond the national scholarships identified by scholarship search engines. There is much less competition for scholarships that are local, regional or targeted to students with certain characteristics.

Audrey Kahane, M.S., MFA, is a private college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or www.audreykahane.com.