The State of Virginia Colleges
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Anonymous
Isn't the only in-state option that's about $40k W&M? Which really doesn't have a comparable public U anywhere. I think it's too expensive and my DD ended up elsewhere because of the cost but really most VA Us are much less. We pay about $25K for DS at VT (including cost of living off campus). |
Anonymous
[/b] OP, I don't think you know what you are talking about. Next to California with its 9 UCs and 23 Cal States and huge community college system, Virginia is the next best thing in the United States. But the problem with the UC system is the extreme expense for OOS (most everyone reading here) and the fact that UC has tightened the reigns for admission of OOS (an a no-go for the Cal STates - they are reserved almost exclusively for Californians) and International to 10% (UVA is 26% OSS International) which makes it virtually inaccessible to anyone in the DCUM area. Even if you get in OOS, Berkeley is $73K a year. Florida, as pointed out is more expensive for OOS. Texas, like California, is mostly limited to in-state students The voters in that state, like California, have objected to having state schools educate so many OOS. Maryland has, well only 12 institutions of varying quality. https://www.usmd.edu/. UMCP is a great deal but you have to get in and $56K OOS. UVA has 35 institutions of higher learning and a generous community college transfer system that allows anyone to attend a 2-year college, live at home and transfer to their choice of Virginia 4 year institution if they meet the GPA and course requrements. Only California offers a similar system. All of the Virginia 4 year schools are cheaper than any other OOS public or private. FWIW, GMU's board entertained a motion to increase tuition this past year. Friends on the Board voted it down. Expenses have to be covered, especially as a large number of OOS and International students are included in Virginia's school. Many Virginians would like to see UVA and others cap OOS at 10% or less like California and Texas. |
Anonymous
No. |
Anonymous
W&M is at the top end at $40K. Almost all of the others are less (UVA is $38,000 for College of Arts & Sciences; more for engineeing). Here's the costs of public schools in VA as of 2021. You can find this in SCHEV. If W&M is too much, pick one of the others. Or go community college. 2020-21 FULL-TIME RESIDENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT CHARGES (BEFORE financial aid, grants, scholarships, etc.) Institution Tuition and Total Mandatory Fees Average Room and Board1 Total Cost Christopher Newport University $ 14,924 $11,760 $26,684 College of William and Mary2 $23,628 $13,356 $36,984 George Mason University 13,014 $12,090 $25,104 James Madison University3 $12,330 $11,348 $23,678 Longwood University 13,910 $12,020 $25,930 Norfolk State University $9,622 $10,844 $20,466 Old Dominion University $11,160 $11,064 $22,224 Radford University $11,416 $9,743 $21,159 University of Mary Washington $13,574 $10,104 $23,678 University of Virginia $17,296 $12,083 $29,379 UVA-Wise $10,837 $11,277 $22,114 Virginia Commonwealth University $14,710 $11,297 $26,007 Virginia Military Institute $19,210 $10,060 $29,270 Virginia State University $9,154 $11,544 $20,698 Virginia Tech $ 13,749 $9,556 $23,305 2-Year Colleges Richard Bland College $8,100 $12,103 $20,203 Virginia Community College System4,5 $4,620 N/A $4,620 Average for 4-year Institutions $13,902 $11,210 $25,112 Average for All Institutions $13,015 $11,266 $23,618 |
Anonymous
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Two of my kids went to UVA. A third turned down William & Mary for a lot of merit aid at a top-ranked liberal arts college.
Jealous? |
Anonymous
Proud of you. |
Anonymous
immature and have self esteem issues? -not a VA resident but 
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Anonymous
No, many of us didn't get merit aid or financial so be kind to OP. Many of us can't afford multiple applications to shop at "top-ranked liberal arts colleges". Try to be helpful. to OP. One way to save money which we did at UVA was to move DC off to a group house as soon as possible. She did her own cooking. no car. Took the train back and forth. And keep your child on your own medical insurance policy - you can save $3200 to $3800 a year. At that time the total tuition package was slightly over $12K in tuition only. We had another child at GMU at the same time - its package was more expensive than UVA. It fluctuates. |
Anonymous
And some say the UVA parents are impossible! |
Anonymous
| OP, your options are to go to one of the other VA schools that are less expensive; or do the community college route, or move to California now and take up residency and keep your fingers crossed. Write your legislator if you have an issue with W&M costs - but they will tell you the same. (UVA receives only 6% of its operating budget from the Commonwealth so can be less expensive and do its own thing). |
Anonymous
Yes, and they have their place for the people who want them (or just don't want the college path). But some of y'all glorify those careers. They are not easy. They are physically taxing. You -CAN- be paid well but that is not a given (I've known both sides of that coin in my own family). There are safety issues (I would not want my DD going into strangers' homes alone to fix the furnace or whatever). And the work/life balance can be problematic (working like first responder schedules, working in inclement weather, etc.) My DH's father was one of the trades listed and he has absolutely debilitating physical injuries as a result of the lifting, bending, stooping, etc. He is basically disabled and can't leave the home easily (because he "can" he is not on disability; but he's in great pain when he does). So. Yes. These jobs are important. And can be a great path. But let's not paint them as the "answer" to the college issues of costs, enrollment, etc. They're not necessarily. -signed, child of a family of blue collar workers who has seen those careers up close and personal |
Anonymous
This was my point! It will make it impossible for these students to get into one of these schools because more kids will only have them as an option. Unless you have a senior in a NOVA high school you don't know what I am talking about. Kids with 4.0's not getting into VT, their only option is JMU or out of state because they don't want to go to one of the other schools. Now JMU is becoming harder to get into because kids with 4.0's have to stay in state and JMU is recognized as a strong school. Some parents don't want to spend 100K on a Radford education! |
Anonymous
They are NOT getting into these schools as easily as you think. |
Anonymous
But enough kids will go to those other schools that they’ll eventually become good and widely desirable. |
Anonymous
 I'm PP. After deferral, DS should be formally denied in about 60 minutes!
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