How are normal people paying for college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that somewhat flippant, op. "And in state is off the table?"
In-state is expensive for most people, my family included. Quite frankly, your condescending attitude is off-putting.
-I have two kids in-state and it is a struggle to pay for it. Quite frankly, you can figure it out on your own when so clueless about the realities of life for most "normal!!!!" people.

I find that somewhat arrogant, PP. NP here. I’m a DC resident and UDC is essentially community college - it really doesn’t compare to instate options in VA or MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find that somewhat flippant, op. "And in state is off the table?"
In-state is expensive for most people, my family included. Quite frankly, your condescending attitude is off-putting.
-I have two kids in-state and it is a struggle to pay for it. Quite frankly, you can figure it out on your own when so clueless about the realities of life for most "normal!!!!" people.

I find that somewhat ignorant, PP. NP here. I’m a DC resident and UDC is essentially community college - it really doesn’t compare to instate options in VA or MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find that somewhat flippant, op. "And in state is off the table?"
In-state is expensive for most people, my family included. Quite frankly, your condescending attitude is off-putting.
-I have two kids in-state and it is a struggle to pay for it. Quite frankly, you can figure it out on your own when so clueless about the realities of life for most "normal!!!!" people.

I find that somewhat arrogant, PP. NP here. I’m a DC resident and UDC is essentially community college - it really doesn’t compare to instate options in VA or MD.

Which is why the vast majority of people in this situation moved to Maryland or Virginia, for their kids’ sake and colleges. Don’t act like you don’t have any choice, just because you refused to move out of DC. I loved it too, and will likely move back when my kids are out of college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgo kitchen renovation, any other renovation thet's a want rather than a need. Forgo new cars. Do this for 18-12 years.

This is pretty much what we lived with, as well as starting 529s once they were born. Currently have 2 kids in in-state universities. We saved enough for roughly 75% of their overall college expenses. The rest we are paying as they go. No student loans.

OP here. We never thought to do any needed renovations other than basic repairs, only as needed, frankly. I forgot where I am, in "everyone-has-to-have-a-white-kitchen-land". Car is 12 years old. That old enough for you? Lots of incorrect assumptions on this board.

Amendment: Assuming one knows the meaning of sacrifice.........how does one pay for college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to have to work her way through college. I am not going to be able to pay for it for her.

If she can get a job for $70K a year (the cost of tuition alone) without a degree, then why would she go to college?

What college's tuition is 70k? Serious question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgo kitchen renovation, any other renovation thet's a want rather than a need. Forgo new cars. Do this for 18-12 years.

This is pretty much what we lived with, as well as starting 529s once they were born. Currently have 2 kids in in-state universities. We saved enough for roughly 75% of their overall college expenses. The rest we are paying as they go. No student loans.

OP here. We never thought to do any needed renovations other than basic repairs, only as needed, frankly. I forgot where I am, in "everyone-has-to-have-a-white-kitchen-land". Car is 12 years old. That old enough for you? Lots of incorrect assumptions on this board.

Amendment: Assuming one knows the meaning of sacrifice.........how does one pay for college?

One goes to a college that they can afford. That might be a school that offers excellent financial aid, if HHI allows, or t might be a less selective school that offers merit aid, OR, it might be an in-state public.
Or, increase your income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgo kitchen renovation, any other renovation thet's a want rather than a need. Forgo new cars. Do this for 18-12 years.

This is pretty much what we lived with, as well as starting 529s once they were born. Currently have 2 kids in in-state universities. We saved enough for roughly 75% of their overall college expenses. The rest we are paying as they go. No student loans.

OP here. We never thought to do any needed renovations other than basic repairs, only as needed, frankly. I forgot where I am, in "everyone-has-to-have-a-white-kitchen-land". Car is 12 years old. That old enough for you? Lots of incorrect assumptions on this board.

Amendment: Assuming one knows the meaning of sacrifice.........how does one pay for college?

One goes to a college that they can afford. That might be a school that offers excellent financial aid, if HHI allows, or t might be a less selective school that offers merit aid, OR, it might be an in-state public.
Or, increase your income.

Links?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgo kitchen renovation, any other renovation thet's a want rather than a need. Forgo new cars. Do this for 18-12 years.

This is pretty much what we lived with, as well as starting 529s once they were born. Currently have 2 kids in in-state universities. We saved enough for roughly 75% of their overall college expenses. The rest we are paying as they go. No student loans.

OP here. We never thought to do any needed renovations other than basic repairs, only as needed, frankly. I forgot where I am, in "everyone-has-to-have-a-white-kitchen-land". Car is 12 years old. That old enough for you? Lots of incorrect assumptions on this board.

Amendment: Assuming one knows the meaning of sacrifice.........how does one pay for college?

One goes to a college that they can afford. That might be a school that offers excellent financial aid, if HHI allows, or t might be a less selective school that offers merit aid, OR, it might be an in-state public.
Or, increase your income.

Links?

You expect someone to provide you with links to every school's net price calculator? Or to google for you to find schools with merit aid that will vary significantly depending on the student's qualifications. Do your own work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to have to work her way through college. I am not going to be able to pay for it for her.

If she can get a job for $70K a year (the cost of tuition alone) without a degree, then why would she go to college?

What college's tuition is 70k? Serious question.

Almost all prominent SLACs and well-known universities. Northwestern is $79k not including airfare from east coast; northeastern $75; Duke almost $80; Harvard $75; Princeton $75 etc. add in the expense of flying several times a year plus family trips makes it well over 80k a year. Google “cost of attendance ——-“ and insert school name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to have to work her way through college. I am not going to be able to pay for it for her.

If she can get a job for $70K a year (the cost of tuition alone) without a degree, then why would she go to college?

What college's tuition is 70k? Serious question.

Almost all prominent SLACs and well-known universities. Northwestern is $79k not including airfare from east coast; northeastern $75; Duke almost $80; Harvard $75; Princeton $75 etc. add in the expense of flying several times a year plus family trips makes it well over 80k a year. Google “cost of attendance ——-“ and insert school name.

Yes, but at DCUM, students are supposed to go to whatever school the posters WANT them to go to! LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgo kitchen renovation, any other renovation thet's a want rather than a need. Forgo new cars. Do this for 18-12 years.

This is pretty much what we lived with, as well as starting 529s once they were born. Currently have 2 kids in in-state universities. We saved enough for roughly 75% of their overall college expenses. The rest we are paying as they go. No student loans.

OP here. We never thought to do any needed renovations other than basic repairs, only as needed, frankly. I forgot where I am, in "everyone-has-to-have-a-white-kitchen-land". Car is 12 years old. That old enough for you? Lots of incorrect assumptions on this board.

Amendment: Assuming one knows the meaning of sacrifice.........how does one pay for college?

One goes to a college that they can afford. That might be a school that offers excellent financial aid, if HHI allows, or t might be a less selective school that offers merit aid, OR, it might be an in-state public.
Or, increase your income.

Links?

You expect someone to provide you with links to every school's net price calculator? Or to google for you to find schools with merit aid that will vary significantly depending on the student's qualifications. Do your own work.

Why the defensive attitude? You can't post an example of what to look for? Don't bring your problems here, woman.

[Anonymous]

yeah, and stop badgering me re: the renovation post -- it's just how one person made it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to have to work her way through college. I am not going to be able to pay for it for her.

If she can get a job for $70K a year (the cost of tuition alone) without a degree, then why would she go to college?

What college's tuition is 70k? Serious question.

Almost all prominent SLACs and well-known universities. Northwestern is $79k not including airfare from east coast; northeastern $75; Duke almost $80; Harvard $75; Princeton $75 etc. add in the expense of flying several times a year plus family trips makes it well over 80k a year. Google “cost of attendance ——-“ and insert school name.

Maybe total costs... But not "tuition alone".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is going to have to work her way through college. I am not going to be able to pay for it for her.

If she can get a job for $70K a year (the cost of tuition alone) without a degree, then why would she go to college?

What college's tuition is 70k? Serious question.

Almost all prominent SLACs and well-known universities. Northwestern is $79k not including airfare from east coast; northeastern $75; Duke almost $80; Harvard $75; Princeton $75 etc. add in the expense of flying several times a year plus family trips makes it well over 80k a year. Google “cost of attendance ——-“ and insert school name.

Maybe total costs... But not "tuition alone".

does the difference matter? Especially if freshman are required to live on campus, you're paying the cost to attend

[Anonymous]

Single mom here. Got them through college with minimum loans. I had to forgo a lot and I'm sure many won't agree but my goal was to get them through without crushing debt so they would have options in their lives that I never had.

I looked on net price calculator and we targeted schools that looked like they would offer enough money. It didn't always work. Two of my kids stayed home, worked, got some financial aid and took out minimum loans. One started at a cc and transferred. One had a grandparent help one year because there was no other way to bridge the gap except private loan.

Two kids got scholarships. That, plus savings, plus current earnings for the last kid got them all through.

No magic. They didn't all get to attend the college but they all got to attend 'good' schools. Most of the time, private schools were the best option. Second best option was instate public. Out-of-state public never worked out; even when they offered money, there was too much of a gap.

One other suggestion is to have them accumulate some credit in high school, whether through AP or testing or whatever to give the kid the best chances of graduating in 4 years. In all cases except one, my kids were able to graduate in 4 years. Most schools will not extend financial aid or scholarships past 4 years so when kids have to stay an extra semester or year, it can be a huge expense.