How much is too much

[Arijos0222]

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How much is too much tuition? I have a list of schools I want to attend and 7 out of 8 of them are out of state. I know "cheaper is better" but I've visited a lot of school I would really like to attend. I am a New Jersey resident.

These are the schools I am applying to

Rutgers
Penn State
University of Michigan
University of Maryland-College Park
Fordham
UMass Amherst
Rowan University
Pepperdine University

Thoughts on tuition, cost, etc

Top choice is UMichigan but the Out of state tuition is 39,000 dollars! And I'm pretty well off... I don't know how people do it. 👎

 

[nysegop]

Don't just look at the price tag. Consider all costs (incl. room and board) and then look at the average financial aid. Since you're well off (and so am I) you might want to consider the lower end of the financial aid spectrum for each school. Some schools cost $45,000, but have
average financial aid of $39,000.


I won't be able to get into umich. 🙁

Rutgers is a great school. Consider going there.

 

[Apoplexy__]

Nysegop said it: looking at the financial aid you can expect to get is key.

Also, I don't know what kind of post-grad health institution you're looking to go into, but keep in mind that the cost of post-college education may completely dwarf the differences in costs of some of these universities. I'm taking out 50k/yr in med school, so if I liked an undergrad school way more that was $10k/yr more than another, I would still consider it.

 

[Tolbert]

As they said, I would say that it isn't tuition that is really the problem, it is the amount of aid you get. A school that costs 25k tuition and not give any "gift aid" is still more expensive than the 40k tuition school that gives you 30k in scholarships and grants, for example.

Now for total debt, personally I would say 40k for undergrad should be the break, and I think I am being (just a little 😉) generous compared to what others might say. BUT, whether your family helps you pay (or not) throughout college affects your debt, so it's good to figure out how much your family is willing to contribute and apply to schools accordingly. Of course it's up to you, but you probably don't want to realize 5 years from now that your $60 grand investment on a bachelors, when you had another school that would've been $20k, wasn't so wise. Good luck 🙂

 

[nysegop]

Nysegop said it: looking at the financial aid you can expect to get is key.

Also, I don't know what kind of post-grad health institution you're looking to go into, but keep in mind that the cost of post-college education may completely dwarf the differences in costs of some of these universities. I'm taking out 50k/yr in med school, so if I liked an undergrad school way more that was $10k/yr more than another, I would still consider it.

Some medical schools are even ~$60k/yr now. Dartmouth and Stanford are about $58k. + It's really hard to get scholarships for medical school. Everybody already has good merit, and it's expensive to train doctors.

:\

 

[californicati0n]

It really depends on how much your parents are willing to pay and/or how much debt you're willing to take on to go to a specific undergraduate school.
My advice would be to try and find schools that have average stats significantly lower than yours and typically give out good merit aid. Also keep in mind that your mindset shouldn't be on a particular school, because if you make the most out of the opportunities at any college, you will have a successful and fun college experience.

 

[Tolbert]

It really depends on how much your parents are willing to pay and/or how much debt you're willing to take on to go to a specific undergraduate school.
My advice would be to try and find schools that have average stats significantly lower than yours and typically give out good merit aid. Also keep in mind that your mindset shouldn't be on a particular school, because if you make the most out of the opportunities at any college, you will have a successful and fun college experience.

yeah, and to add on to this, iirc there was actually a study on this where the majority of students said if given the chance to do it all again, they'd attend the same college. This goes to show you you can be happy at really any school, as long as you make the most out of where you go!

 

[Arijos0222]

Don't just look at the price tag. Consider all costs (incl. room and board) and then look at the average financial aid. Since you're well off (and so am I) you might want to consider the lower end of the financial aid spectrum for each school. Some schools cost $45,000, but have
average financial aid of $39,000.


I won't be able to get into umich. 🙁

Rutgers is a great school. Consider going there.

39,000 every year off of the tuition, or 39K off of the full tuition?

And i'm just afraid that I won't qualify for any financial aid at all.

They look at parent's income but my parents aren't paying for undergrad.

 

[j814wong]

Try to determine the best value for the price. For example, would you rather go to a, say, rank 10 $50k/year medical school after financial aid (Just ranodm numbers), or a rank 15 $40/year medical school that you both like.

Both of them are ranked quite well but one is signifcantly cheaper so perhaps the second medical school might not be as good as the higher ranked one but given considerations to costs as well, it is a better value.

I would suggest you rank those 8 schools and list the total debt you expect to have upon graduating from each one then compare the personal ranking and the price to determine the sweet spot school that is good enough for you as a school and affordable enough as well.

Also, if your parents aren't paying for your undergrad, try to find cheaper schools that you can still be happy at. Definitely reconsider instate medical school and consider the value of them based on quality, affordability, and person fit.

Good luck!

 

[nysegop]

39,000 every year off of the tuition, or 39K off of the full tuition?

And i'm just afraid that I won't qualify for any financial aid at all.

They look at parent's income but my parents aren't paying for undergrad.

Yep go to Rutgers. It's only $13,00 instate and you could probably get at least a bit of institutional aid.

In terms of federal aid, you won't be able to get very much (I think I'm in a similar situation but my family earns a little bit less probably). We were eligible for $0 of federal aid. Institutional aid is different. You will have to apply to each school and see what they offer. Some offer more, some offer less depending on each applicant.

We're like identical applicants:
-Similar Stats
-Similarish schools applying to
-Similar financial situations


The one problem with Rutgers: only 49% female.

 

[Arijos0222]

Yep go to Rutgers. It's only $13,00 instate and you could probably get at least a bit of institutional aid.

In terms of federal aid, you won't be able to get very much (I think I'm in a similar situation but my family earns a little bit less probably). We were eligible for $0 of federal aid. Institutional aid is different. You will have to apply to each school and see what they offer. Some offer more, some offer less depending on each applicant.

We're like identical applicants:
-Similar Stats
-Similarish schools applying to
-Similar financial situations

The one problem with Rutgers: only 49% female.

LOL

Thanks for the advice everyone

Oh and the problem with going to Rutgers is that it is so close to my house that I can't dorm.

Four more years living with mom and dad 👎

 

[nysegop]

LOL

Thanks for the advice everyone

Oh and the problem with going to Rutgers is that it is so close to my house that I can't dorm.

Four more years living with mom and dad 👎

You can't dorm? Rutgers won't let you? Your parents won't let you?

My parents drive to UVM everyday since they work there, but I'm still planning on dorming there.

 

[Mesinan]

You can't dorm? Rutgers won't let you? Your parents won't let you?

My parents drive to UVM everyday since they work there, but I'm still planning on dorming there.

I go to a boarding school high school and we dorm here. I don't recommend it if you can avoid it. It's going to be loud, annoying, and small. Roommates can suck when they want to study and you want to sleep and vice versa. Plus it is ridiculously expensive nowadays for room and board costs and food costs on campus. Just stay at home and save some money and some sleep.

 

[californicati0n]

I go to a boarding school high school and we dorm here. I don't recommend it if you can avoid it. It's going to be loud, annoying, and small. Roommates can suck when they want to study and you want to sleep and vice versa. Plus it is ridiculously expensive nowadays for room and board costs and food costs on campus. Just stay at home and save some money and some sleep.

I personally can't wait to dorm! Yes, I'm sure it gets annoying sometimes, but I don't think anyone ever looks back at their freshman dorm experience and regrets it. Plus, if you need to study, you can just go to the library.

 

[Tolbert]

I personally can't wait to dorm! Yes, I'm sure it gets annoying sometimes, but I don't think anyone ever looks back at their freshman dorm experience and regrets it. Plus, if you need to study, you can just go to the library.

definitely agree. Will be dorming next year and can't wait. 👍 And plus, as colleges will be GLAD to tell you, studies show dorming helps. And plus, the library is filled with other studying students where you could probably get help.

 

[Arijos0222]

You can't dorm? Rutgers won't let you? Your parents won't let you?

My parents drive to UVM everyday since they work there, but I'm still planning on dorming there.

My parents won't let me because Rutgers is literally RIGHT THERE

They don't see how it justifies paying 10K more a year when we live pretty close.

 

[nysegop]

IMO part of the whole point in college is also getting the experience of independence. Not just academics.

 

[Tolbert]

IMO part of the whole point in college is also getting the experience of independence. Not just academics.

yup, i agree.. But parents be like that sometimes