Actual COA for UVA and W&M

[Anonymous]

Are there any quality (say the same level as JMU) out of state schools, public or private, that cost less than or only slightly more than William and Mary (exclusive of any kind of aid?) We're in-state in Virginia and have set our budget to be no more or little more than the most expensive in-state school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any quality (say the same level as JMU) out of state schools, public or private, that cost less than or only slightly more than William and Mary (exclusive of any kind of aid?) We're in-state in Virginia and have set our budget to be no more or little more than the most expensive in-state school.

Yes, many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m in state and not factoring in cars and spending money since kids all have different habits as far as eating etc but I will say books have been much lower cost than it was estimated.

I paid probably just right around $30k this year at UVA.[/quote|

Probably a silly question for many here, but please bear with me, I've only commuted to CC.

So Tuition, Meal Plan and Housing (depending on dorm/meal plan) are fix prices. You know for sure what they will cost.

The list of books/supplies, transportation, other is where the flexibility comes in? How do colleges then charge you for it/how do you pay for those if the price is not certain. Do you pay upfront and get reimbursed for unused funds?

Note: Kid can stay on our health insurance as is until age 26 (if in school).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in state and not factoring in cars and spending money since kids all have different habits as far as eating etc but I will say books have been much lower cost than it was estimated.

I paid probably just right around $30k this year at UVA.[/quote|

Probably a silly question for many here, but please bear with me, I've only commuted to CC.

So Tuition, Meal Plan and Housing (depending on dorm/meal plan) are fix prices. You know for sure what they will cost.

The list of books/supplies, transportation, other is where the flexibility comes in? How do colleges then charge you for it/how do you pay for those if the price is not certain. Do you pay upfront and get reimbursed for unused funds?

Note: Kid can stay on our health insurance as is until age 26 (if in school).

The schools don’t charge the students for eating out at local restaurants or airfare to Florida (or home) for spring break. Those are costs that students choose (or not) and pay for out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

Something to factor: W&M freezes tuition at your freshman rate for all four years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any quality (say the same level as JMU) out of state schools, public or private, that cost less than or only slightly more than William and Mary (exclusive of any kind of aid?) We're in-state in Virginia and have set our budget to be no more or little more than the most expensive in-state school.

The definition of quality is going to differ from person to person. There are people in Virginia who send their kids to Bama because the school throws merit aid at our kids. It's a great options for some, but not for others. You have to look at what kind of environment is best for them over what other people say is "quality."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in state and not factoring in cars and spending money since kids all have different habits as far as eating etc but I will say books have been much lower cost than it was estimated.

I paid probably just right around $30k this year at UVA.

Wow! Did your kid get some merit or financial grant?
If 30K then it would be far be the cheapest option for us out of all the ones the kid has gotten into!

UVA tuition only is $18,960 a year. The rest is books, room and board etc. you can reduce the overall COA by moving off campus to a group house and doing your own cooking. No car. And keep your child on your own healthcare plan. If I remember correctly, UVA’s was almost $3k.

School of engineering is 28k (tuition and mandatory fees).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m in state and not factoring in cars and spending money since kids all have different habits as far as eating etc but I will say books have been much lower cost than it was estimated.

I paid probably just right around $30k this year at UVA.[/quote|

Probably a silly question for many here, but please bear with me, I've only commuted to CC.

So Tuition, Meal Plan and Housing (depending on dorm/meal plan) are fix prices. You know for sure what they will cost.

The list of books/supplies, transportation, other is where the flexibility comes in? How do colleges then charge you for it/how do you pay for those if the price is not certain. Do you pay upfront and get reimbursed for unused funds?

Note: Kid can stay on our health insurance as is until age 26 (if in school).

I just checked my UVA Pay and I was invoiced $14,889 for this second semester for my first year. That includes standard CAS tuition, fees, room and board. So double that and that is what I had to pay UVA for the first year ($29,778). My DC had maybe $300 in books first semester and this second semester I do not think they even bought any books. Most resources are online. The biggest expense seems to be language books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any quality (say the same level as JMU) out of state schools, public or private, that cost less than or only

I also set my budget at W&M cost and told my kids they could go anywhere that cost the same. Clemson was relatively close after a smallish merit award and my DC got large merit awards from two SLACs which brought that cost to competitive. I can't say what your kid will get but we certainly found options that were competitively priced.

[Anonymous]

Too much for public universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too much for public universities.

No it isn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any quality (say the same level as JMU) out of state schools, public or private, that cost less than or only

I also set my budget at W&M cost and told my kids they could go anywhere that cost the same. Clemson was relatively close after a smallish merit award and my DC got large merit awards from two SLACs which brought that cost to competitive. I can't say what your kid will get but we certainly found options that were competitively priced.

University of Delaware and Miami (Ohio) came in at about the W&M price for DS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any quality (say the same level as JMU) out of state schools, public or private, that cost less than or only slightly more than William and Mary (exclusive of any kind of aid?) We're in-state in Virginia and have set our budget to be no more or little more than the most expensive in-state school.

WM is expensive for in-state. USF, Tampa, Denver, Muhlenberg, Rollins, all came in at or less than WM. Our experience this year was that where our kid got accepted/rejected was not as predictable as we thought and merit/financial aid packages varied greatly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any quality (say the same level as JMU) out of state schools, public or private, that cost less than or only slightly more than William and Mary (exclusive of any kind of aid?) We're in-state in Virginia and have set our budget to be no more or little more than the most expensive in-state school.

WM is expensive for in-state. USF, Tampa, Denver, Muhlenberg, Rollins, all came in at or less than WM. Our experience this year was that where our kid got accepted/rejected was not as predictable as we thought and merit/financial aid packages varied greatly.

With the exception of USF (I'm assuming South Florida, not San Francisco?) all of those schools you listed are private. The cost is the same for "out of state" and "in state."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any quality (say the same level as JMU) out of state schools, public or private, that cost less than or only slightly more than William and Mary (exclusive of any kind of aid?) We're in-state in Virginia and have set our budget to be no more or little more than the most expensive in-state school.

WM is expensive for in-state. USF, Tampa, Denver, Muhlenberg, Rollins, all came in at or less than WM. Our experience this year was that where our kid got accepted/rejected was not as predictable as we thought and merit/financial aid packages varied greatly.

With the exception of USF (I'm assuming South Florida, not San Francisco?) all of those schools you listed are private. The cost is the same for "out of state" and "in state."

William & Mary is public