Which college is worth $90k?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have decided that state flagship is the only way to go after spending years working in higher ed (public and top 15 private).

If can get admitted into a top major at a Top 10 Public is the best deal. IMHO

Only in state. I don't buy in OOS Public.

Depends on the OOS public and the major my friend.

True, and especially if it is honor programs (smaller class) then it makes sense. I simply will not pay 90K a year to send my kid to waste four years sitting in classes with students need remedial math classes or partying or listen to non-sense brain wash agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have decided that state flagship is the only way to go after spending years working in higher ed (public and top 15 private).

I tend to agree but how do you reconcile the large class size or even sink or swim environment in schools like Berkeley even though it’s a world class institution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I assume you can’t afford it and that’s why you’re asking- are you asking is it worth it if it means going into debt?

If you can comfortably afford it without making any sacrifices, then “worth it” doesn’t really matter.

I’m OP. No it doesn’t mean I’m going into debt. I can comfortably afford it. Just literally asking for names of colleges YOU personally like at $90k. I put the price tag on it as a filter bc I think a lot of cars are great and I’d be happy to drive a Subaru but I wouldn’t pay $90k for one even when I can afford to; just as i think Pittsburgh is a great college but I also wouldn’t pay $90k. Sorry I thought it was a simple question; didn’t mean to trigger all the debate on worth.

I’m the PP you’re reprising to. Thx for clarifying.

I’d say, if you can comfortably afford it, any college you think is a great fit for your kid is worth it.

Its not about the prestige or salary after. It’s about the fact that college is still 4 yrs of life and if one college seems like a great fit, and money doesn’t matter, then why wouldn’t you let your kid go there?

What is a good fit will vary by student.

I think any kid can make the most of any college and find good qualities but some will be a better fit/experience than others. So individual. Just like you can marry one of many different people and make it work and find positive qualities and be happy but one spouse may have been an overall better fit than another.

This is how the world works. Those with money can tailor their experience of life more so.

So any and every college can fit this description- it’s about the kid and fit, not the college itself in a vacuum.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with comparing higher education to commodity products like cars. The purpose of higher education is to invest in our kids’ potential—their careers and future opportunities. Right now, it’s unclear that higher education is focusing on things that actually strengthen or weaken our kids’ future prospects while other countries are catching up in innovation and technology through stronger education pipelines. I am concerned not only the price tag but also the quality and the time. Paying $90K for a degree that doesn’t lead to a meaningful career doesn’t justify the cost and the time. Middle-class families don’t have the means to support unemployed or underemployed children indefinitely.

Why does Meta buy a foreign startup? Can't our higher education produce founders to create billion dollars worth startup?

[Anonymous]

I think HYPSM and then a couple places like williams are worth it. My list would be about 10 schools total where it's worth it.

After that, better off going to Wisconsin or in-state and having a 200k down payment for a house.

[Anonymous]

None. And no one really pays full price. If your kids work hard and ask for it they can get scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None. And no one really pays full price. If your kids work hard and ask for it they can get scholarship.

How do you get said scholarship at Ivy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with comparing higher education to commodity products like cars. The purpose of higher education is to invest in our kids’ potential—their careers and future opportunities. Right now, it’s unclear that higher education is focusing on things that actually strengthen or weaken our kids’ future prospects while other countries are catching up in innovation and technology through stronger education pipelines. I am concerned not only the price tag but also the quality and the time. Paying $90K for a degree that doesn’t lead to a meaningful career doesn’t justify the cost and the time. Middle-class families don’t have the means to support unemployed or underemployed children indefinitely.

Why does Meta buy a foreign startup? Can't our higher education produce founders to create billion dollars worth startup?

If we as a society cared about education as an investment in the future, all of these high-performing students would go to college for free. Instead, in America, education is priced like a Veblen good. And to be a proper Veblen good, the education actually has to be somewhat useless. “We can afford any amount” means one thing if the kid graduates with a high-paying job. That’s an investment; you can measure the ROI. But it sends a much more powerful signal about family wealth if you pay 90k/year to turn a high-scoring kid with an excellent K-12 education into an underemployed anthropology major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think HYPSM and then a couple places like williams are worth it. My list would be about 10 schools total where it's worth it.

After that, better off going to Wisconsin or in-state and having a 200k down payment for a house.

This is ridiculous. You’re basing on what you can afford which OP clarified is not the question here.
What if you can pay for all your kids college/grad school AND give them each a down payment for a house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think HYPSM and then a couple places like williams are worth it. My list would be about 10 schools total where it's worth it.

After that, better off going to Wisconsin or in-state and having a 200k down payment for a house.

This is ridiculous. You’re basing on what you can afford which OP clarified is not the question here.
What if you can pay for all your kids college/grad school AND give them each a down payment for a house?

But that’s how money works. No matter how much money you have, the less you spend on college the more you’ll have left over afterwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are actually asking are like maybe 30 colleges worth paying $90k…because once you get beyond the top 5 nearly all the “$90k” schools provide merit aid to nearly everyone regardless of their rack rate.

False. USC in so Ca is now $99k + and doesn’t offer merit unless it has to to acquire a certain credential it wants. Same for my SLAC at $98k. Same with my undergrad, Harvard. Top schools don’t offer merit because they don’t need to. If you drop down below T50 you start to see merit but only for students who offer something the school needs for USNWR rankings, like high GPA or high test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I assume you can’t afford it and that’s why you’re asking- are you asking is it worth it if it means going into debt?

If you can comfortably afford it without making any sacrifices, then “worth it” doesn’t really matter.

I’m OP. No it doesn’t mean I’m going into debt. I can comfortably afford it. Just literally asking for names of colleges YOU personally like at $90k. I put the price tag on it as a filter bc I think a lot of cars are great and I’d be happy to drive a Subaru but I wouldn’t pay $90k for one even when I can afford to; just as i think Pittsburgh is a great college but I also wouldn’t pay $90k. Sorry I thought it was a simple question; didn’t mean to trigger all the debate on worth.

We are paying for the social sciences and humanities at NYU. Starts spring semester in a few days, hopefully it goes well. Wouldn’t do it for STEM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think HYPSM and then a couple places like williams are worth it. My list would be about 10 schools total where it's worth it.

After that, better off going to Wisconsin or in-state and having a 200k down payment for a house.

This is ridiculous. You’re basing on what you can afford which OP clarified is not the question here.
What if you can pay for all your kids college/grad school AND give them each a down payment for a house?

I'm basing it on my thoughts. I have 8mm in total net worth and 3 kids. I could buy a TON of things I dont buy because I think they're poor choices.

I dont think most colleges are worth 400k after tax dollars. I'm not giving my kids 400k and grad school and a down payment for an apartment and a wedding and every little thing in between. But you can, if you like.

[Anonymous]

We feel like Middlebury has been worth the full tuition. DC is thriving and taking advantage of so many opportunities there. There were a few slacs we toured ranked just above the schools that offer merit where I felt like full tuition might not be worth it if similar schools with merit were on the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with comparing higher education to commodity products like cars. The purpose of higher education is to invest in our kids’ potential—their careers and future opportunities. Right now, it’s unclear that higher education is focusing on things that actually strengthen or weaken our kids’ future prospects while other countries are catching up in innovation and technology through stronger education pipelines. I am concerned not only the price tag but also the quality and the time. Paying $90K for a degree that doesn’t lead to a meaningful career doesn’t justify the cost and the time. Middle-class families don’t have the means to support unemployed or underemployed children indefinitely.

Why does Meta buy a foreign startup? Can't our higher education produce founders to create billion dollars worth startup?

If we as a society cared about education as an investment in the future, all of these high-performing students would go to college for free. Instead, in America, education is priced like a Veblen good. And to be a proper Veblen good, the education actually has to be somewhat useless. “We can afford any amount” means one thing if the kid graduates with a high-paying job. That’s an investment; you can measure the ROI. But it sends a much more powerful signal about family wealth if you pay 90k/year to turn a high-scoring kid with an excellent K-12 education into an underemployed anthropology major.

What values do they create to the society?