Bottom line costs: Columbia, Stony Brook

[rebmem eman]

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Guys, what are the bottom line costs at Stony Brook (in-state) and Columbia? I'm talking about everything -- reasonable living costs, tuition, those darned extra fees. I feel that cost the difference between the two schools isn't as large as people think. I don't think Stony Brook is really all that cheap (even for in-state students).

Thanks.

 

[rickblas]

Guys, what are the bottom line costs at Stony Brook (in-state) and Columbia? I'm talking about everything -- reasonable living costs, tuition, those darned extra fees. I feel that cost the difference between the two schools isn't as large as people think. I don't think Stony Brook is really all that cheap (even for in-state students).

Thanks.

More or less 25,000-30,000 difference. 100,000 over four years, +additional accrued interest (no more subsidized federal loans). About 125kish all four years difference.

Stony Brook tuition is 25,000 a year, Columbia is 26,000 just tuition a semester.

Think what you want, numbers don't lie.

 

[rickblas]

double post woops.

 

[rebmem eman]

No no no, but Stony Brook has all those extra fees. I saw on the sheet they gave us in the packet (from interview day) there are LOADS of hidden fees, like the ~$2000 university fee, and then two sets of ~$9000 fees for dental supplies. So, yeah, it starts out as $27,000 per semester, but when you tack on all those fees, the "real" tuition cost is wayyyy higher than $27k.

 

[rickblas]

No no no, but Stony Brook has all those extra fees. I saw on the sheet they gave us in the packet (from interview day) there are LOADS of hidden fees, like the ~$2000 university fee, and then two sets of ~$9000 fees for dental supplies. So, yeah, it starts out as $27,000 per semester, but when you tack on all those fees, the "real" tuition cost is wayyyy higher than $27k.

Seeing as I am attending stony brook I think I would know by now if there are hidden fees involved...lol

Alot of those fees can be taken off. Also living costs are very overestimated. You can find a decent places here under 700$ a month. Stony brook lists every possible thing you may ever need under their budget; it is not "hidden." Stony brook even has 2.5k set aside in their budget for a laptop. If you already have one you can erase that from the budget.

Columbia also has the same 9000 clinic fee etc. Columbia just doesn't list fees for supplies...which i have no idea how they do it. What makes you think you won't have hidden fees at Columbia? You need supplies to go to school and if it is not listed under their budget you can't assume it is just included in your tuition. Loupes may be optional at Columbia; they are mandatory at stony brook and thus are included in the budget...and if you may end up buying loupes at columbia anyway, then it would be a "hidden" fee since columbia does not have it in their budget but stony brook does.

REF:
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/student/finaid/pdf/2012 Materials/dnbg1213712.pdf
http://dentistry.stonybrookmedicine.edu/dental/student/tuition

Even with the "extra fees"stony brooks 4 year rundown (even including extras like loupes and a laptop) is per year:

67,252 68,456 62,623 60,744


Columbia is per year:
88,478
89,742
93,047
92,864

This is STILL 100,000$ difference even with all of stony brooks fees(some of which can be removed)

Make an informed decision.

 

[sirrenda]

Probably one of the most helpful analyses, albeit blatantly obvious. Thank you rickblas!!

 

[DemonsDDS]

I'm really surprised how OP even managed to get into Columbia and Stonybrook and can barely understand the cost of attendance sheet =/

 

[rebmem eman]

Hey, that's not nice. I hadn't seen Columbia's full cost of attendance sheet. I didn't google hard enough, I suppose.

Okay, so that is quite a difference. Thanks for the help, rickblas! Greatly appreciated.

 

[UCSFx2017]

Do what I did here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=969460
You will need to open an Excel sheet and use this calculator http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/RepayCalc/dlentry2.html
Have the cost of attendance information ready.

 

[rebmem eman]

Do what I did here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=969460
You will need to open an Excel sheet and use this calculator http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DirectLoan/RepayCalc/dlentry2.html
Have the cost of attendance information ready.

Wait this sounds really helpful (thank you!) but I'm unable to open the first link.