Is Penn State worth $300K?

[Anonymous]

The question is not whether Penn State is worth $300K, it it whether it is worth $100K more than your next best option.

Since the next best option is GMU, which (and I may be wrong about this) is not known for a strong campus community or alumni network, I would say maybe Penn State is worth the extra money.

Penn State is known to be very accepting of AP and other credit. You may see if DC is able to graduate early (or do a semester focused on research/ and internship without paying tuition) to bring down your costs.

[Anonymous]

I would not pay that for PSU if I had other, cheaper options. The prestige/Network conversation is completely void. Does your kid typically sit towards the top of their class? Go getter? Strong work ethic? Than either school, they will secure the opportunities. For a kid that doesn't have those qualities, you'd be paying for a "network" for them not to do what it takes for it to make a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not pay that for PSU if I had other, cheaper options. The prestige/Network conversation is completely void. Does your kid typically sit towards the top of their class? Go getter? Strong work ethic? Than either school, they will secure the opportunities. For a kid that doesn't have those qualities, you'd be paying for a "network" for them not to do what it takes for it to make a difference.

+1

[Anonymous]

Lol, hardly. I think it’s funny people are still considering this. I would take that 300k and invest some, start a business with some, and travel with the rest. Can you imagine what kind of life you could build with that? What kind of *actual* education you get from seeing the world and creating something on your own? We need to stop buying into this system.

[Anonymous]

Another troll thread. Penn Staye costs about $250K for four years, not 300k

[Anonymous]

Not only no, but hell no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another troll thread. Penn Staye costs about $250K for four years, not 300k

Yeah but those student loans start compounding interest quick. We had 50k and it was up to 80k by the time we paid it off at 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another troll thread. Penn Staye costs about $250K for four years, not 300k

+1. NP we are considering Penn State and we live in DC so no in state option. So our analysis is more like $210k (after TAG grants) vs $200k at other options we're weighing. If TAG gets approved to $15k we're looking at $190k plus inflation.

[Anonymous]

No. In state, save the $300k or anything from it for a house or other investment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The question is not whether Penn State is worth $300K, it it whether it is worth $100K more than your next best option.

Since the next best option is GMU, which (and I may be wrong about this) is not known for a strong campus community or alumni network, I would say maybe Penn State is worth the extra money.

Penn State is known to be very accepting of AP and other credit. You may see if DC is able to graduate early (or do a semester focused on research/ and internship without paying tuition) to bring down your costs.

Agreed this is a mistitled thread. Besides GMU, what other schools are options? And what are their total costs? Then you can really evaluate the differences. (Which in the PSU vs GMU discussion, is $100k)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC does not want in state for a specific reason, and I don't blame them.

Yes, we can "afford" the $300K, but it will wipe out all of DC's inheritance, which they are willing to do, but they are 17 and not exactly aware of financial consequences of such a decision.

My question is, "is it worth $300K". It's the summer start that's adding an extra $20K, and although that's about 6% or so of the total, it still adds to putting the budget over. Quite frankly, I didn't expect summer start to be so pricey.

They did apply to and get merit aid from small private colleges, but they aren't as keen on those, and those colleges aren't as good for the major (it's not CS).

My understanding is that PSU has an amazing alumni network, and that is no small thing. Also, IF DC decides to change majors (which I could see happening), I'm thinking PSU would be better for that, too.

But the aid from GMU is also no small thing, and yes, I'm aware of the GPA requirements.

We are so torn about this decision. Overall, I do think PSU is better but is it "better" for $300k?

Quit mentioning 300,000. It is 300,000 minus the cost of GMU.

I would encourage your child to apply to some other flagship schools so you have another option that is similar to Penn State. It seems like DC wants a football school. I bet Iowa comes in under GMU. Last year my kid was all in around 34-35 and he was TO and a good but not great student. Maybe Minnesota? Kentucky has auto merit. Same with WVU. Mizzou offers in-state tuition after a year. What about Temple? It isn't that expensive.

People love Penn State. I get it. DS is probably going there next year but we are in-state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another troll thread. Penn Staye costs about $250K for four years, not 300k

OP here. DC got admitted to summer start, which is about $20K. PA raises tuition by 4% per year, and then there's the expected 3% per year inflation on col.

Below is just tuition and fees. Add in housing and meals, and you can easily reach $300K with a summer start. I did the math, and it all came out to about $300K for 4yrs + summer.

https://tuition.psu.edu/estimated-future-tuition-and-fee-rates


GMU just gave DC more merit aid, which will bring the cost down to basically to in state coa. We aren't really looking at in state due to the nature of their desired major. GMU is better than our in state alternative for that major. Plus, DC just really does not want to be in state, and that in state is seriously like HS 2.0 which they are trying to get away from (too many social issues and bad blood).

We don't need loans for the $300K, but that's a heavy price tag for a good but not amazing oos public. They even got good merit aid from the smaller private colleges, but DC doesn't want too small. DC wants the vibe of Penn State. They only applied to these colleges because of the major.

DC is not a "go getter", at least not yet. Who knows, maybe they will flourish in college, but right now, no, they aren't like that.

yes, we will go to admitted students day at GMU. And yes, we have talked extensively of what it will mean to be basically flat broke when they graduate (the types of internships they would get does not pay).

They know they may have to live at home after graduation. This is a 17 yr old who is not that mature yet and has some impulse issues, so it's difficult for us to convince DC that being flat broke out of college is no small thing.

At the same time, I don't want DC to be miserable for the four years they are in college. I tried to explain to them how miserable they would be being flat broke (I know because I experienced it), but it's hard for DC to really picture it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. DC does not want in state for a specific reason, and I don't blame them.

Yes, we can "afford" the $300K, but it will wipe out all of DC's inheritance, which they are willing to do, but they are 17 and not exactly aware of financial consequences of such a decision.

My question is, "is it worth $300K". It's the summer start that's adding an extra $20K, and although that's about 6% or so of the total, it still adds to putting the budget over. Quite frankly, I didn't expect summer start to be so pricey.

They did apply to and get merit aid from small private colleges, but they aren't as keen on those, and those colleges aren't as good for the major (it's not CS).

My understanding is that PSU has an amazing alumni network, and that is no small thing. Also, IF DC decides to change majors (which I could see happening), I'm thinking PSU would be better for that, too.

But the aid from GMU is also no small thing, and yes, I'm aware of the GPA requirements.

We are so torn about this decision. Overall, I do think PSU is better but is it "better" for $300k?

Quit mentioning 300,000. It is 300,000 minus the cost of GMU.

I would encourage your child to apply to some other flagship schools so you have another option that is similar to Penn State. It seems like DC wants a football school. I bet Iowa comes in under GMU. Last year my kid was all in around 34-35 and he was TO and a good but not great student. Maybe Minnesota? Kentucky has auto merit. Same with WVU. Mizzou offers in-state tuition after a year. What about Temple? It isn't that expensive.

People love Penn State. I get it. DS is probably going there next year but we are in-state.

The major is not a popular major, and most colleges, even large flagships, don't offer it. That's why we are limited to schools like GMU or Penn State. If it weren't for the major, then yes, we would've looked a lot of other less expensive oos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The question is not whether Penn State is worth $300K, it it whether it is worth $100K more than your next best option.

Since the next best option is GMU, which (and I may be wrong about this) is not known for a strong campus community or alumni network, I would say maybe Penn State is worth the extra money.

Penn State is known to be very accepting of AP and other credit. You may see if DC is able to graduate early (or do a semester focused on research/ and internship without paying tuition) to bring down your costs.

Agreed this is a mistitled thread. Besides GMU, what other schools are options? And what are their total costs? Then you can really evaluate the differences. (Which in the PSU vs GMU discussion, is $100k)

In this case, the cost difference would be about $150K due to the generous merit aid from GMU. Penn State is now basically double the cost of GMU with all the merit aid from them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another troll thread. Penn Staye costs about $250K for four years, not 300k

OP here. DC got admitted to summer start, which is about $20K. PA raises tuition by 4% per year, and then there's the expected 3% per year inflation on col.

Below is just tuition and fees. Add in housing and meals, and you can easily reach $300K with a summer start. I did the math, and it all came out to about $300K for 4yrs + summer.

https://tuition.psu.edu/estimated-future-tuition-and-fee-rates


GMU just gave DC more merit aid, which will bring the cost down to basically to in state coa. We aren't really looking at in state due to the nature of their desired major. GMU is better than our in state alternative for that major. Plus, DC just really does not want to be in state, and that in state is seriously like HS 2.0 which they are trying to get away from (too many social issues and bad blood).

We don't need loans for the $300K, but that's a heavy price tag for a good but not amazing oos public. They even got good merit aid from the smaller private colleges, but DC doesn't want too small. DC wants the vibe of Penn State. They only applied to these colleges because of the major.

DC is not a "go getter", at least not yet. Who knows, maybe they will flourish in college, but right now, no, they aren't like that.

yes, we will go to admitted students day at GMU. And yes, we have talked extensively of what it will mean to be basically flat broke when they graduate (the types of internships they would get does not pay).

They know they may have to live at home after graduation. This is a 17 yr old who is not that mature yet and has some impulse issues, so it's difficult for us to convince DC that being flat broke out of college is no small thing.

At the same time, I don't want DC to be miserable for the four years they are in college. I tried to explain to them how miserable they would be being flat broke (I know because I experienced it), but it's hard for DC to really picture it.

As an Alum, the bolded sentences make me a little concerned about your kid at PSU. It’s a huge school and no one is going to be checking in to make sure they are on track. Are they going to be able to handle that?