Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you DCUM parents live in DC? We are seriously thinking of moving because there are NO in-state options. We've been socking away money in a 529 but the price tags are still really daunting for top flagship state schools (even with the $10k DCTAG) But we'd have to move high schools (from School without Walls) and a neighborhood we love. Curious how other non crazy rich families do it.

I used to live on Cap Hill. We moved to Virginia for precisely this reason. Both children went to Virginia publics

Our kids are pursuing a service academy which is free tuition so another way to approach things.

Getting into a service academy is challenging---it's not like applying to UVA, it's more like Stanford and MIT and Harvard, but also you need to be extremely physically fit

True but planning to be a rugby recruit

Smart. Heard that rugby is a sport that has big rosters and they recruit heavily for

You still need a nomination

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just paid WM, which invoices at about $42,000 for in state freshman. Add that to the $52,000 we pay for the other kid’s SLAC after merit. Yikes. Three more semesters and Kid 1 graduates.

The only good news is that we have 8 semesters of pre-paid 529, which will more than $25k off of the price of WM over 4 years.

I just checked the W&M website and the figures it provides for new and continuing students for 2022-2023 shows a total of $37,504 for tuition, fees, room and board. Can you please explain what accounts for the other $4,500 in the invoice you paid? We're strongly considering W&M for our kid and want a clear picture of the cost. TIA.

Per Semester:

Tuition and standard fees: $11,985
Mandatory Freshman Meal Plan: $2,623. (Only one choice for freshman)
Double Room: $4648 (Dorm and single vs double dependent)
Applied Music Fee: $425. (2 applied fine arts credits are required, my kid plans to stay with her instrument through college)
Freshman Orientation fee: $419
Science lab fee: TBD

The freshman orientation fee is one time. Science and applied music will likely be every semester for this this kid.

Which gets you right around $41,000. I’m adding $500 a semester for books.

Plus, you must cover your kid good health insurance on your kid that will cover treatment out of network in Williamsburg. We have great federal government health insurance with good out of network coverage. Many people don’t meet their standards (HDHP, HMO, PCP with poor OON coverage). If they don’t approve your health insurance, they add another $1200 or so per semester for their health insurance.

If you need school health insurance, you can subtract the orientation fee, lab free and get a cheaper room and still be around $42,000

Thank you for this information - very helpful.

It *is* cheaper once they move off campus. And W&M has a no tuition increase policy. Our FA got slightly better over the years too--more grants less loans. Also, it's fairly easy for students to get paid research positions even without work-study. So if you can manage the first year, the remaining three will be usually better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you DCUM parents live in DC? We are seriously thinking of moving because there are NO in-state options. We've been socking away money in a 529 but the price tags are still really daunting for top flagship state schools (even with the $10k DCTAG) But we'd have to move high schools (from School without Walls) and a neighborhood we love. Curious how other non crazy rich families do it.

I used to live on Cap Hill. We moved to Virginia for precisely this reason. Both children went to Virginia publics

Our kids are pursuing a service academy which is free tuition so another way to approach things.

Getting into a service academy is challenging---it's not like applying to UVA, it's more like Stanford and MIT and Harvard, but also you need to be extremely physically fit

No the best service academy West Point avg SAT is only 1300 lol
Average HS athletes would easily make the physical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you DCUM parents live in DC? We are seriously thinking of moving because there are NO in-state options. We've been socking away money in a 529 but the price tags are still really daunting for top flagship state schools (even with the $10k DCTAG) But we'd have to move high schools (from School without Walls) and a neighborhood we love. Curious how other non crazy rich families do it.

I used to live on Cap Hill. We moved to Virginia for precisely this reason. Both children went to Virginia publics

Our kids are pursuing a service academy which is free tuition so another way to approach things.

Getting into a service academy is challenging---it's not like applying to UVA, it's more like Stanford and MIT and Harvard, but also you need to be extremely physically fit

True but planning to be a rugby recruit

Smart. Heard that rugby is a sport that has big rosters and they recruit heavily for

There are plenty of colleges that the COA is under $25k. This is including tuition and room and board. I am not referring to the top ranked schools mentioned on this board. My daughter is attending one of them. Most of the HBCUs outside of Spellman, Morehouse, Howard and NCA&T are COA of under $25k plus they all offer great merit scholarships for high stats even full rides. You can apply for 65 HBCUS for only $25 with the Common Black Common App. My daughter got accepted into over 50 schools with 4 full ride offers. Anyone can attend an HBCU and it is an affordable options for those who feel that college is ridiculously high.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you DCUM parents live in DC? We are seriously thinking of moving because there are NO in-state options. We've been socking away money in a 529 but the price tags are still really daunting for top flagship state schools (even with the $10k DCTAG) But we'd have to move high schools (from School without Walls) and a neighborhood we love. Curious how other non crazy rich families do it.

I used to live on Cap Hill. We moved to Virginia for precisely this reason. Both children went to Virginia publics

Our kids are pursuing a service academy which is free tuition so another way to approach things.

Yeah yeah, but only if they are top in their high school class, have 100% of the high school behind them, superb scores, superb letters of recommendation, sports and THEN interview brilliantly enough to be one of the two that Congressman get to recommend to the academies. And then, in the case of a friend, you hope they don't wash up during august drills. It aint't easy

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you DCUM parents live in DC? We are seriously thinking of moving because there are NO in-state options. We've been socking away money in a 529 but the price tags are still really daunting for top flagship state schools (even with the $10k DCTAG) But we'd have to move high schools (from School without Walls) and a neighborhood we love. Curious how other non crazy rich families do it.

I used to live on Cap Hill. We moved to Virginia for precisely this reason. Both children went to Virginia publics

Our kids are pursuing a service academy which is free tuition so another way to approach things.

Getting into a service academy is challenging---it's not like applying to UVA, it's more like Stanford and MIT and Harvard, but also you need to be extremely physically fit

No, it isn't. You have to have first superlative scores in everything and 100% support from your high school. then your Congressman has to interview you and nominate you. Last i knew they could nominate two a year One nominee I knew went to the August boot camp and washed up. It is not easy

You can save over $3500 at UVA and W&M by simply keeping your kid on your own insurance policy and rejecting what the University wants to offer

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you DCUM parents live in DC? We are seriously thinking of moving because there are NO in-state options. We've been socking away money in a 529 but the price tags are still really daunting for top flagship state schools (even with the $10k DCTAG) But we'd have to move high schools (from School without Walls) and a neighborhood we love. Curious how other non crazy rich families do it.

I used to live on Cap Hill. We moved to Virginia for precisely this reason. Both children went to Virginia publics

Our kids are pursuing a service academy which is free tuition so another way to approach things.

Getting into a service academy is challenging---it's not like applying to UVA, it's more like Stanford and MIT and Harvard, but also you need to be extremely physically fit

True but planning to be a rugby recruit

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you DCUM parents live in DC? We are seriously thinking of moving because there are NO in-state options. We've been socking away money in a 529 but the price tags are still really daunting for top flagship state schools (even with the $10k DCTAG) But we'd have to move high schools (from School without Walls) and a neighborhood we love. Curious how other non crazy rich families do it.

I used to live on Cap Hill. We moved to Virginia for precisely this reason. Both children went to Virginia publics

Our kids are pursuing a service academy which is free tuition so another way to approach things.

Getting into a service academy is challenging---it's not like applying to UVA, it's more like Stanford and MIT and Harvard, but also you need to be extremely physically fit

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do any of you DCUM parents live in DC? We are seriously thinking of moving because there are NO in-state options. We've been socking away money in a 529 but the price tags are still really daunting for top flagship state schools (even with the $10k DCTAG) But we'd have to move high schools (from School without Walls) and a neighborhood we love. Curious how other non crazy rich families do it.

I used to live on Cap Hill. We moved to Virginia for precisely this reason. Both children went to Virginia publics

Our kids are pursuing a service academy which is free tuition so another way to approach things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just paid WM, which invoices at about $42,000 for in state freshman. Add that to the $52,000 we pay for the other kid’s SLAC after merit. Yikes. Three more semesters and Kid 1 graduates.

The only good news is that we have 8 semesters of pre-paid 529, which will more than $25k off of the price of WM over 4 years.

I just checked the W&M website and the figures it provides for new and continuing students for 2022-2023 shows a total of $37,504 for tuition, fees, room and board. Can you please explain what accounts for the other $4,500 in the invoice you paid? We're strongly considering W&M for our kid and want a clear picture of the cost. TIA.

Per Semester:

Tuition and standard fees: $11,985
Mandatory Freshman Meal Plan: $2,623. (Only one choice for freshman)
Double Room: $4648 (Dorm and single vs double dependent)
Applied Music Fee: $425. (2 applied fine arts credits are required, my kid plans to stay with her instrument through college)
Freshman Orientation fee: $419
Science lab fee: TBD

The freshman orientation fee is one time. Science and applied music will likely be every semester for this this kid.

Which gets you right around $41,000. I’m adding $500 a semester for books.

Plus, you must cover your kid good health insurance on your kid that will cover treatment out of network in Williamsburg. We have great federal government health insurance with good out of network coverage. Many people don’t meet their standards (HDHP, HMO, PCP with poor OON coverage). If they don’t approve your health insurance, they add another $1200 or so per semester for their health insurance.

If you need school health insurance, you can subtract the orientation fee, lab free and get a cheaper room and still be around $42,000

Thank you for this information - very helpful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just paid WM, which invoices at about $42,000 for in state freshman. Add that to the $52,000 we pay for the other kid’s SLAC after merit. Yikes. Three more semesters and Kid 1 graduates.

The only good news is that we have 8 semesters of pre-paid 529, which will more than $25k off of the price of WM over 4 years.

OK, but did you check the charge for university health care? I don't know about W&M but if you can keep your child on your old policy that may be a $4K savings right there. Also buy the cheapest meal plan. The food is generally - well - not reat.

Freshman has one meal plan option.
This does not include health insurance. Kid is staying on ours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just paid WM, which invoices at about $42,000 for in state freshman. Add that to the $52,000 we pay for the other kid’s SLAC after merit. Yikes. Three more semesters and Kid 1 graduates.

The only good news is that we have 8 semesters of pre-paid 529, which will more than $25k off of the price of WM over 4 years.

I just checked the W&M website and the figures it provides for new and continuing students for 2022-2023 shows a total of $37,504 for tuition, fees, room and board. Can you please explain what accounts for the other $4,500 in the invoice you paid? We're strongly considering W&M for our kid and want a clear picture of the cost. TIA.

Per Semester:

Tuition and standard fees: $11,985
Mandatory Freshman Meal Plan: $2,623. (Only one choice for freshman)
Double Room: $4648 (Dorm and single vs double dependent)
Applied Music Fee: $425. (2 applied fine arts credits are required, my kid plans to stay with her instrument through college)
Freshman Orientation fee: $419
Science lab fee: TBD

The freshman orientation fee is one time. Science and applied music will likely be every semester for this this kid.

Which gets you right around $41,000. I’m adding $500 a semester for books.

Plus, you must cover your kid good health insurance on your kid that will cover treatment out of network in Williamsburg. We have great federal government health insurance with good out of network coverage. Many people don’t meet their standards (HDHP, HMO, PCP with poor OON coverage). If they don’t approve your health insurance, they add another $1200 or so per semester for their health insurance.

If you need school health insurance, you can subtract the orientation fee, lab free and get a cheaper room and still be around $42,000

"My friends kept saying the sticker price isn’t the actual price, but it turns out it is unless your kid is extraordinarily in some way."

Yes and no.

In most states, there is no break on the tuition for public schools. The discount is already built in for students with residency. A few are really affordable if you're a resident, like NC and NM. NY gives good scholarships for middle class and lower families to supplement the already low tuition at their public schools. Then there are some state schools that like to lure OOS upper income students with good stats in, like Alabama and Arizona. Virginia offered my Washington, DC HS grad a $10K grant on top of the $10K DC Tag grant, which made it quite affordable.

For the most elite schools that are "meets need" even people with $150K+ incomes can get aid, but it's extremely rare to get admitted so that's irrelevant for 99% of people. If you have a family income of $250K, prepare to be squeezed. Our friend's son is going to Columbia this fall and they will be paying over $75K/year for the privilege. I didn't ask how much over, but ouch! They did save a ton over the years, so they can manage it on a fed income.

Then there are the privates that do give aid to UMC families. There are some/a few that will come in at less than $30K net after merit, but most will be closer to $40K/year.

There are lots of tools out there to help you understand all of this. Road2College has one where you input the offers your kid got at their colleges and you can see what other kids got. It's organized by GPA, state, and something else I can't remember. Worth checking it out.