OOS Tuition: What's a reasonable tuition cost?

[Anonymous]

DD is attending UNC-Charlotte this fall. We're in MD (she didn't get into UMCP). I'm trying to wrap my head around the concept of paying $20k/year for this school. We didn't get ANY financial aid (absent $5500 in student loans), so we have to foot the whole bill.

Is this reasonable to pay for an OOS school? Does it even make good financial sense to pay (HHI: $110k)? Just trying to determine whether I'm being cheap, if the school costs too much or if this is relatively average for what college costs per year.

[Anonymous]

Average published tuition and fees for out-of-state students at public four-year colleges and universities in were $21,706 in 2012-13.

(from college board: http://press.collegeboard.org/releases/2012/new-college-board-trends-reports-public-college-tuition-increases-slow)

So the costs are in line with other public out of state schools, and are still considerably less than most private schools (average of about $30K from the same source).

Realistically--what are her other options? She's not likely to be able to qualify as an in-state student unless you move there and then there's usually a waiting period. She didn't get in to a MD state school--so her other option is to take a year (or semester?) off and reapply or go to a community college for a year or two and transfer.

[Anonymous]

^ I was just going to say $20K isn't that bad. Could be a whole lot worse.
UNC Charlotte though? majoring in what?

[Anonymous]

just checked College Reviews and the student reviews for UNC Charlotte are truly awful. http://www.studentsreview.com/NC/UNCC.html

[Anonymous]

UNC is one of the best ranked public universities -- check out US News + World Report. $20k is super cheap for out of state -- does that include the dorm cost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UNC is one of the best ranked public universities -- check out US News + World Report. $20k is super cheap for out of state -- does that include the dorm cost?

It is NOT UNC - read the OP. It is UNC-Charlotte. Ranked number 199 by US News (do they even go any lower than that?). Acceptance rate: 69.6%

[Anonymous]

I'd say $20K is about $18k too high for a place like UNC-Charlotte.

[Anonymous]

She could go to Montgomery College and then go somewhere else to finish her degree.

[Anonymous]

Could someone go to UNC Charlotte and then try to transfer to Chapel Hill after the first year? If so, $20k is worth it. If not, go to CC as others have suggested and transfer to someplace better from there.

[Anonymous]

NC Universities are inexpensive OOS and Charlotte is probably one of the cheapest in the state. I think the University of California System schools are literally twice as much, so 15-20k a year is a good deal.

I'm from North Carolina originally, and TBH, all the students or alumni that I've talked to have had nothing but positives to say about UNCC. In one company that I worked for our CFO had UNCC has his alma mater, so you can go to Charlotte and do well.

What is your DD planning to study? IIRC most students go for engineering, architecture, banking (bank of America and Wells Fargo have a presence there) or as a stepping stone for Chapel Hill or NCSU. From what I've heard, one of its biggest strengths relative to other NC satellite schools is that internships and co-ops are easier to come by.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the feedback.

DD wanted a diverse school, so UNCC was a good state option for us. She also got into Rutgers-New Brunswick, but the tuition cost was crazy ($40k; only $11k in financial aid).

Based on my daughter's personality, it's best for all considered if she goes to school this fall *away from home*. I'm prepared to offer one year at UNCC and then she'll have to transfer in-state (Towson, UMBC, etc) OR pick a school that is a part of the Southern Regional Education Board (http://www.sreb.org/page/1304/).

I just wasn't sure if I was being cheap and didn't understand that this is an average cost. Like other pp's, although we can swing it, I just don't think UNCC is *worth* the cost.

I've posted on this forum a few times. DD wants to be a physician assistant, so her major is not yet defined. At UNCC she's undeclared (since it's likely she'll have to transfer after one year), but eventually she'll probably major in Psychology/Nutrition/something similar.

[Anonymous]

I pay just over $20,000/year for my daughter at UMCP, so the price seems reasonable--but I don't love UNC-Charlotte & agree it's not worth the cost.

[Anonymous]

The price is reasonable but your proposed strategy -- one year there -- seems more problematic. If you are just trying to send her away for a year, why would you choose to send her to a school in Charlotte. If the school takes, it would be quite harsh to pull her away, so sending her to a Community College somewhere would make more sense, both cheaper and not a place one would expect to stay for 4 years. The other thing about UNCC, if she sticks it out, it has cache primarily in North Carolina, which is a terrific place to live but can be a limiting choice. Rutgers would at least have the Northeast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The price is reasonable but your proposed strategy -- one year there -- seems more problematic. If you are just trying to send her away for a year, why would you choose to send her to a school in Charlotte. If the school takes, it would be quite harsh to pull her away, so sending her to a Community College somewhere would make more sense, both cheaper and not a place one would expect to stay for 4 years. The other thing about UNCC, if she sticks it out, it has cache primarily in North Carolina, which is a terrific place to live but can be a limiting choice. Rutgers would at least have the Northeast.

OP here. Having DD stay home will have its own sort of setbacks and complications. DD is "over" us (hasn't said it, but her attitude leaves a lot to be desired). It's *definitely* time for her to get some distance from us and I need that as well. In addition, she has a vulnerable personality that would not do well if she doesn't transition straight to university. It's hard to explain, but as her parent, this is true for her. And, I'm willing to invest in her mental/psychological well-being to make sure this happens.

If she ends up loving the school, I've thought of other options. My DH and I are comfortable paying $10k/year for UNCC, so I've told my daughter that if she wants to stay there, she'll have to find a way to bridge the gap (Dean's list to qualify for scholarships, job, etc). Half of her costs there are room & board, so if she really loves the school and wants to stay, she can choose to get some roommates and live off-campus.

re: regional "clout". DD is pursuing physician assistant school after graduation (in MD), so I don't think going to UNCC will be a problem.

This is all SUCH a headache!

[Anonymous]

As the poster who questioned your strategy, let me say that if she is planning to go to graduate school than the regional nature of the school will matter less. This sounds like it has been very stressful for you and if it is any solace, most kids (not all) really enjoy their college experience so this might be a great move for her and the cost issue may work itself out as well via the room/board issue. I hope it does.