Tulane or Regional SLAC with Merit Aid?

[Anonymous]

Need some advice here, please.

DC has narrowed acceptances down to Tulane and nice-but- regional (Midwest) LAC that offered merit aid. I've crunched the numbers and it looks like Tulane will cost about $150K more over the four years in tuition/ books/ rooming, and not including travel. (We live in the Midwest.) To me, that is significant. We've saved for college and can afford either but it seems to me that it makes more sense to attend the LAC for undergrad and focus that savings on grad school.

DC is uncertain of major, but probably something related to business. DC leaning towards Tulane, primarily because "New Orleans seems like a fun place to go to school for four years." DC also says that Tulane's ranking is more impressive, which I suppose is true, but I can't think that's worth $150K and will mean much to a future employer. Finally, DC commented on "cultural fit" - seems to think Tulane will be more diverse with kids from all over the country, versus the LAC which is primarily known in this area.

Would appreciate thoughts on this either way - thank you!

[Anonymous]

Most SLACs do not offer a business major, so if it were important to my DC to be able to major in business that would be a factor. Also, setting aside rankings (because likely the difference in rankings isnt very significant even if Tulane’s is technically higher), most likely a midwest SLAC and Tulane are going to have very different vibes, so that would be another factor of importance. Cost is yet another of course so not discounting that, but who knows if your dc will go to grad school vs a strong undergrad experience can shape one’s future career.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't pay that difference for undergrad, but YMMV financially. If it is primarily the location that appeals, maybe look at less costly LACs in big cities that might appeal where your DC would get some merit aid.

[Anonymous]

Is the SLAC Denison?

[Anonymous]

Why the need for a grad degree?? I would do Tulane, business, no grad school.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. Personally we went full pay for the right school for our kid, despite the prospect of saving a similar amount thanks to a merit package at a lower tier school. But in your case, it seems less clear-cut. Some of it may come down to how much your kid cares and how much of a stretch the extra cost would be for your family.

PSA: if you share the name of the other school you'll get a lot more definitive opinions. They may not be correct opinions, but they will be vehement in either or both directions.

Another PSA: I know everyone on DCUM & College Confidential insists you should save your $$ for grad school rather than pay big bucks for undergrad. I think there may be cases where that's true - someone eyeing med school for example. But most kids don't go straight to grad school after undergrad, and some types of grad school programs aren't worth attending if you have to pay. There's a lot of middle ground there, but as someone who had help with undergrad but not with grad school, tuition can be a helpful way of focusing a young adult on the real cost-benefit calculation of their career and life choices. In other words, don't save your money just to pay for some random possible future grad school - if it's a worthwhile career investment, your kid will figure that out.

[Anonymous]

You won’t find recruiters recommending business undergrad nor does many good schools offer business major for undergrad. Don’t base your decision on major, kids change their minds all the time. Wherever he is happier and has flexibility to change majors is going to work best.

[Anonymous]

OP here; thank you all. The SLAC is St Olaf College. I didn't list it because I assumed that people who are not from this part of the country aren't familiar with it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here; thank you all. The SLAC is St Olaf College. I didn't list it because I assumed that people who are not from this part of the country aren't familiar with it!

We know St. Olaf!

[Anonymous]

St Olaf is a well-regarded national SLAC, not a regional SLAC. I would go there with merit over Tulane without merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Olaf is a well-regarded national SLAC, not a regional SLAC. I would go there with merit over Tulane without merit.

+1. But they do seem pretty different so I could see a given kid thinking one was a better fit than the other

[Anonymous]

St. Olaf, great school with a world class Math department. He could major in math and econ and be in a much stronger position to find a job then a business at Tulane. Unless fit is totally off.

[Anonymous]

Have you all visited both to get a feel for the campuses, area, effort to get there, etc? Wondering if that will help. Like if Tulane has better dorms, amenities, great food, larger library, free laundry, etc, it might be obvious that’s where to choose. Those things can be important to some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St. Olaf, great school with a world class Math department. He could major in math and econ and be in a much stronger position to find a job then a business at Tulane. Unless fit is totally off.

+100 Assuming he applied to St. Olaf because he was open to a LAC I would not want to pay a lot more for Tulane just because he thinks New Orelans would be fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St. Olaf, great school with a world class Math department. He could major in math and econ and be in a much stronger position to find a job then a business at Tulane. Unless fit is totally off.

+100 Assuming he applied to St. Olaf because he was open to a LAC I would not want to pay a lot more for Tulane just because he thinks New Orelans would be fun.

OP here. Thank you. At the heart of it, I think this is the real question