reasonable tuition?

[track11]

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What is "reasonable" tuition to you, as it pertains to the entire three-year program?

I'm trying to determine what figure I shouldn't exceed, considering the debt/salary ratio.

 

[hefe]

It's like limbo, what's the phrase... I'm sure you've heard it. 😉

Don't let that inherently put you off, just gauge into what you're comfortable and how the school helps you reach your goals.

I'm sure others here may be more comfortable giving some specific figures.

 

[NATO]

What is "reasonable" tuition to you, as it pertains to the entire three-year program?

I'm trying to determine what figure I shouldn't exceed, considering the debt/salary ratio.

Remember that for every $1 you take out in a loan, expect to give $2 back. My "magic number" is no more than 50K for the entire tuition cost. I recall that someone on here mentioned getting accepted into their IS school for a total 3 year tuition cost of only 30K! I need to move to that state immediately! 🙂

 

[track11]

thanks for the input so far...

i'm trying to decide which to choose:

a school in an awesome location where I would be happy ~60K total

or a school in a ****ty, middle-of-nowhere location where I would be miserable ~30K

quality of programs are equal, assistantship availability equal as well.

and I have 12K left in undergrad debt.

This is a HUGE decision for me, so any input from current students and grads would be helpful!!!!!!

 

[goyo1010]

Remember that for every $1 you take out in a loan, expect to give $2 back. My "magic number" is no more than 50K for the entire tuition cost. I recall that someone on here mentioned getting accepted into their IS school for a total 3 year tuition cost of only 30K! I need to move to that state immediately! 🙂

Lol.. Actually, here in TX, the tuition for TWU is about $30k. The other TX schools are about in the same range, too.

 

[dlizzy]

IMO, 60K for PT school really isn't that bad. You said you like the location at this school and know you would be happy, so I say go for it. also, 12K for undergrad also isn't that much debt either... To add some perspective, I have 21K in loans from undergrad, and the only school I got accepted into is around 100K. I would love to be in your position and only pay that much!!

 

[TheOx777]

IMO, 60K for PT school really isn't that bad. You said you like the location at this school and know you would be happy, so I say go for it. also, 12K for undergrad also isn't that much debt either... To add some perspective, I have 21K in loans from undergrad, and the only school I got accepted into is around 100K. I would love to be in your position and only pay that much!!

I agree with this. DPT school will continue to get more and more expensive. I personally think that any program under 80K is a steal. It's just the nature of the beast nowadays. I am sure that there are state schools where you can get 50K or less, but I just don't think this is an objective representation of the typical cost of PT school. With limited spots and PT school hopefully becoming more competitive, it's tough to expect to leave graduate school with less than 100K in total school loan debt(undergrad and grad school).🙁

 

[track11]

Thanks for the input!!

I'm 90% sure I'll be heading to the higher-costing school in a much better location!

 

[jesspt]

Thanks for the input!!

I'm 90% sure I'll be heading to the higher-costing school in a much better location!

What other product are you comfortable purchasing at twice the price when their is a similar (if not exactly identical) product out there that is readily available to you?

 

[pumpkinpatch]

I had a choice between a program in DeKalb, IL (cornfields) that is $25K and one in Chicago, IL for $55K. I went with NIU, because while I know that either program is cheap compared to some other programs, the 30K difference is huge to me. I mean, that's $30,000! That's a lot of money! And while I love Chicago and don't really care for DeKalb, it's PT school. Maybe being in DeKalb is actually a better thing because there will be fewer distractions there. And yes, consider interest. A 30K difference now will potentially become, like NATO pointed out, a 60K difference.

PT school is only 3 years long, but you'll likely be paying those loans back for much longer. If I were you, I would suck it up and go to the very good school that will give you an education for a very reasonable amount of money. I really think you'll be thanking yourself later.

 

[track11]

Thanks for the further input...

Well, the cheaper, rural school is EXTREMELY rural south...i've always lived in the South, but this is even too "South" for me. There is nothing but a Wal-Mart, and it's in a dry county and the winters are long.

I'm concerned about spending basically the rest of my 20's in a location like this. After visiting the school, I think I would be miserable for three years, and it would probably affect my grades.

I've visited the city that the other program is in a couple of times and have always had a good time-- and the weather is very nice... I'm thinking the life experiences there for a span of three years would be worth the extra money, since I live pretty cheap and simple anyhow.

Still thinking about it...further input??

 

[kurtin2kiter]

i am at a very expensive school in a very nice location. i am now freaking out about my debt... it's PT school! we don't get to enjoy the location as we're always inside studying! I say, go to the cheaper school and if you want to travel to nice locations, do a travel PT job after or use your saved $30,000 on some nice vacations. You can also go to a different/nicer location for your internships during school.

 

[jesspt]

i am at a very expensive school in a very nice location. i am now freaking out about my debt... it's PT school! we don't get to enjoy the location as we're always inside studying! I say, go to the cheaper school and if you want to travel to nice locations, do a travel PT job after or use your saved $30,000 on some nice vacations. You can also go to a different/nicer location for your internships during school.

+1


Listen to kurtin.

PT school is not like undergrad. You don't get to enjoy the location nearly as much as one might think, unless you consider the library a cultural hotspot.

 

[markelmarcel]

+1


Listen to kurtin.

PT school is not like undergrad. You don't get to enjoy the location nearly as much as one might think, unless you consider the library a cultural hotspot.

make that +2 and I haven't even started school yet. 😉

 

[hipnotic88]

on average 40 grand