Is Penn State worth $300K?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC got in. Really wants to go, but it will be around $300K all in oos, summer start and with differential tuition as a science major. Penn State tuition goes up by 4% every year.

They also got into GMU oos, which is also good for that particular major. GMU gave DC a lot of merit aid, which brings COA down to like $40K/year, so $165Kish total.

We are all very torn. Obviously Penn State is the better school overall, but is it really worth $300K for undergrad?

If you can afford $300K for college, I would start applying to a bunch of private schools as well.

[Anonymous]

What is your instate options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC got in. Really wants to go, but it will be around $300K all in oos, summer start and with differential tuition as a science major. Penn State tuition goes up by 4% every year.

They also got into GMU oos, which is also good for that particular major. GMU gave DC a lot of merit aid, which brings COA down to like $40K/year, so $165Kish total.

We are all very torn. Obviously Penn State is the better school overall, but is it really worth $300K for undergrad?

If you can afford $300K for college, I would start applying to a bunch of private schools as well.

Penn state is 57 OOS, so that’s about 240k in 4 years. What privates would you suggest that are like Penn state?

Like which private schools?

[Anonymous]

No. Not for 300K, not for 250K.

[Anonymous]

Lots of big, fun public universities to the south & west that give automatic merit scholarships where you could go 4 yrs for less than half of that.

[Anonymous]

Heck no

[Anonymous]

[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC got in. Really wants to go, but it will be around $300K all in oos, summer start and with differential tuition as a science major. Penn State tuition goes up by 4% every year.

They also got into GMU oos, which is also good for that particular major. GMU gave DC a lot of merit aid, which brings COA down to like $40K/year, so $165Kish total.

We are all very torn. Obviously Penn State is the better school overall, but is it really worth $300K for undergrad?

If you can afford $300K for college, I would start applying to a bunch of private schools as well.

Penn state is 57 OOS, so that’s about 240k in 4 years. What privates would you suggest that are like Penn state?

Like which private schools?

+1. Also $300k included food of $10k per year that would be spent even if DC didn't go to school. It's unfair to say $300l for all four year. The real comparison is to cost the incremental increase. So if GMU all 4 years would be $200k and PSU is $300k then ask is PSU worth and extra $100k? To me, the answer is yes. Especially business or another major where lucrative internships can be obtained. PSU is great with interns and jobs at graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree. My daughter is a junior and the research opportunities are endless (chem major). She had 2 summer abroad programs fully covered by the school and has developed great relationships with her professors she is in the honors college and most of her senior friends have been attending many job fairs and already have jobs lined up. The alumni network is pretty impressive. Would she have had the same luck elsewhere? Maybe aome because she’s motivated but the opportunities she has had has been well worth the cost. Plus she is having a lot of fun!

{Not OP}

Do it have a football team ?

Used to.

[Anonymous]

definitely not.

[Anonymous]

If the only other option is GMU then I’d say yes.

[Anonymous]

Can your DC apply to other schools? It’s only December. 300K is insane.

[Anonymous]

Go somewhere cheap for 2 years and then transfer there for the last 2 years.

[Anonymous]

GMU and PSU are two very different experiences. Are you sure your student would be happy at GMU?

[Anonymous]

If you already let your daughter apply, I’m guessing you are willing and able to pay OOS tuition.

As another poster said, it isn’t too late to apply to another school. Guessing, Ohio State and Michigan State come in cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Guessing, Ohio State and Michigan State come in cheaper.

Michigan State is coming in over 57k/yr without merit.