Cost Comparison

[Spiker]

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When I am applying for a school, cost will be a major factor. My question is what part of cost do you look at? Total Cost of Attendance or Average debit after 4 Years?

By just look at cost online it does not take into account of scholarship, and it is a little inflated

By looking at debt it is only just average you could be in debt alot more.

Also it is kinda interest the average debt vary much less than cost. For example baylor cost almost half as much as duke, yet the average debt for duke is only about 10000 more.

So what of those two stats do you look at?

 

[richse]

When I am applying for a school, cost will be a major factor. My question is what part of cost do you look at? Total Cost of Attendance or Average debit after 4 Years?

By just look at cost online it does not take into account of scholarship, and it is a little inflated

By looking at debt it is only just average you could be in debt alot more.

Also it is kinda interest the average debt vary much less than cost. For example baylor cost almost half as much as duke, yet the average debt for duke is only about 10000 more.

So what of those two stats do you look at?

You need to look at both. It may be that more people at Duke get scholarships or it may be that they have more money on average and can pay part of their way.

The average debt at graduation at my school right now is around 160K but everyone I have talked to needs more than 50K/year in loans even after institutional aid.

 

[235009]

Total Cost of Attendance or Average debit after 4 Years?

both are basically useless...

you should look at the tuition+fees and then find out what students typically pay for rent (easiest to do this during interview but you can get an idea of it online) and then estimate how much you typically spend on food. that would be your cost of attendance. the reason using the reported COA is useless is because some schools tend to overestimate while others underestimate etc. In terms of financial aid...wealthier schools will likely give you more money. it should be obvious whether you'd be in the running for merit scholarships. both of these would decrease your COA but there's no way of knowing for sure whether you'll get either and avg debt won't tell you how generous the school is.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Average debt will vary by school also by how many students have parents fitting the bill.

You will need to do your own assessment to see where is best for you.

 

[ohmedschool]

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/debt