Colorado College Full Pay vs. Whitman w/ Merit

[Anonymous]

DD’s top choice is Colorado College right now. No need or merit aid brings it to $91,000 next year. Her second choice, she received merit - Whitman (costs $65,000). We technically can afford to pay Colorado College tuition, but I just can’t seem to stomach paying that much - it doesn’t seem worth it. With how we live and our asset level, it would not be that noticeable financially (high assets, on the frugal side). I want her to choose Whitman, which seemed similar when we visited and is cheaper. Contemplating offering the difference towards grad school. Not sure what to do.

[Anonymous]

Have you attended admitted students day? It might help clarify any differences and whether it is worth the cost.

[Anonymous]

How does the one class at a time schedule work for her? If any reservation about that, it would tip the scales. My son was interested but didn’t think for stem it would work so well….

[Anonymous]

I'm with you. I loved Whitman and can't quite imagine spending 100K more for CC.

Would numbers sway DD? Whitman grad rate is higher. Its retention rate is higher (only a few points, but higher!). It's definitely less of a rich kids' school:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/college-mobility/colorado-college

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/college-mobility/whitman-college

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say my nephew goes to Whitman and loves it. I am all for paying for a better college if you can afford it, but in this case it does not seem like CC is necessarily better and that $100K could pay for grad school or a down payment.

[Anonymous]

If you can afford it and you just have sticker shock I would just tell her you’ll give her the difference as a house/grad school fund and see if that changes anything.

I don’t really think the schools are interchangeable given the block system and locations

[Anonymous]

Colorado College has one of the worst ROIs of any school in the country. Take the scholly and go to Whitman.

[Anonymous]

College tuition at SLACs especially are like a used car lot. Tell your admissions rep/car salesman at colorado you got 65k at whitman and they may go talk to the manager and magically they find a way to knock another 37k off the tuition price.

[Anonymous]

The block system is everything here. If you don't need it, the cost is not worth it. If your DD would benefit from it, it should get another look. My sibling was/is very smart but not good at multi-tasking and did best focusing intensely on things in short bursts. My parents had to give him considerable executive functioning support in high school. The block system at CC was perfect for his needs and enabled him to manage himself in college and complete a reputable degree with a GPA that didn't wreck his chances of admission to PhD programs. Whereas this kind of system would have driven me nuts and not been the right fit at at all. Your DD should have a feel whether the block system is for her or not.

[Anonymous]

Whitman, for sure

[Anonymous]

If you can easily afford it, which you say you can, let your daughter pick.

[Anonymous]

In case it factors into your daughter's decision, Colorado College is known to be extremely woke and as of 2024 still requires students to get the COVID vaccine, though it appears religious exemption are easy to get. Whitman also leans pretty far to the left but seems more grounded. They removed their COVID shot requirement for the 2023-24 academic year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In case it factors into your daughter's decision, Colorado College is known to be extremely woke and as of 2024 still requires students to get the COVID vaccine, though it appears religious exemption are easy to get. Whitman also leans pretty far to the left but seems more grounded. They removed their COVID shot requirement for the 2023-24 academic year.

You post the vaccine requirements so frequently. It’s an interesting obsession. But honestly, the few people that actually care about this probably know how to look it up and will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can easily afford it, which you say you can, let your daughter pick.

I agree with this. I also think that if you were not upfront with your daughter about cost when she applied, that it’s sort of cruel to take away her top choice given you can afford it. In other words tell her before applying that you’re not paying $91k a year so she can only go if she gets merit. I will also say I have never heard of Whitman despite already going through the college process once with my oldest but I have hear very good things about Colorado College.

[Anonymous]

Where's endowment person?