Anonymous
04/14/2026 02:54
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Save the money to help with grad school.
Anonymous
04/14/2026 02:40
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Anonymous wrote:With a merit scholarship, one school costs 55K all-in, which we can just barely afford, and not comfortably. The other came is at 34K after an extremely generous merit scholarship. Both are small private liberal arts colleges and both reportedly good for his chosen major, but the 55K school is ranked in the top #30-40 for liberal arts colleges, while the 32K school is in the #90-100 range. Worth the extra 23k+/year for the more selective school that has a better national recognition and a stronger peer group, or go to the cheaper school and save? DC likes both equally in terms of campus and the specific programs in his major. We visited and were impressed with the faculty at both.
30-40 isn’t a huge gap to 90-100 despite what some would say - and those who *would* say aren’t signing up to pay your kids tuition!
It’s great that your kid likes both schools; I’d sit down and talk to your young adult about the financial implications, especially since you note you can just barely afford the more expensive school. After laying out that the more expensive school is $80k in incremental spend over four years on top of the less expensive school tuition I can’t imagine they won’t decide to attend the less expensive school.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 20:09
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Anonymous wrote:Liberal arts are great for undecided kids but not so good for those knowing what they want to do. If you do stem at a liberal art college, you'll spend your first 2 years learning different broad subjects, so you can later decide what you want to pursue. In the last 2 years you might get deeper into a specific major.
So, following this logic, you actually pay for 2 years of specialization and 2 years of gen ed.
If the question was a cheap liberal arts vs a technical college (like MIT, CMU, GT, etc.) then answer would have been technical college tlbecause it gets you ready for industry in 4 years. But between 2 liberal arts, just go with the cheaper!
This isn’t true.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 20:04
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Liberal arts are great for undecided kids but not so good for those knowing what they want to do. If you do stem at a liberal art college, you'll spend your first 2 years learning different broad subjects, so you can later decide what you want to pursue. In the last 2 years you might get deeper into a specific major.
So, following this logic, you actually pay for 2 years of specialization and 2 years of gen ed.
If the question was a cheap liberal arts vs a technical college (like MIT, CMU, GT, etc.) then answer would have been technical college tlbecause it gets you ready for industry in 4 years. But between 2 liberal arts, just go with the cheaper!
So, following this logic, you actually pay for 2 years of specialization and 2 years of gen ed.
If the question was a cheap liberal arts vs a technical college (like MIT, CMU, GT, etc.) then answer would have been technical college tlbecause it gets you ready for industry in 4 years. But between 2 liberal arts, just go with the cheaper!
Anonymous
04/13/2026 19:34
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Anonymous wrote:With a merit scholarship, one school costs 55K all-in, which we can just barely afford, and not comfortably. The other came is at 34K after an extremely generous merit scholarship. Both are small private liberal arts colleges and both reportedly good for his chosen major, but the 55K school is ranked in the top #30-40 for liberal arts colleges, while the 32K school is in the #90-100 range. Worth the extra 23k+/year for the more selective school that has a better national recognition and a stronger peer group, or go to the cheaper school and save? DC likes both equally in terms of campus and the specific programs in his major. We visited and were impressed with the faculty at both.
yes of course it is.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 19:32
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
I’d go with the higher ranked probably. Check the endowments and financials of each.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 19:28
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Anonymous wrote:I'd rather not name the schools because I don't want to invite scrutiny about the specific choices. But the Bucknell/Lafayette vs. Juniata/Whittier comparison is about right. That's what I'm looking at.
For me, it’s an easy decision. The less expensive school. But we both worked full time through school and went to a no name school we could afford. That is a huge cost difference.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 18:56
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
From my experience, sometimes kids think they will go to grad school and then decide not to go. In that case, a higher ranked or school with more name recognition will help on the resume. My kid planned premed and decided to stop that direction while in college. Given his change of plan, i was glad that he chose a well regarded undergrad school. Also look at strength of alum network for first job and long term networking. Good luck!
Anonymous
04/13/2026 17:59
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:that's a big $ difference over 4 years. With grad school in sight, I would recommend less expensive college. Nobody cares about what school undergrad degree is from, once you get a master's / first job. This is what we did - less expensive undergrad with post-grad in mind.
Sure they do.
When I hire and there is a post-grad or a first job, I may glance at the undergrad degree, but only as a conversational item. Nobody cares what HS you went to once you are in college. Same here.
First, they have to get into graduate school and reputation of undergrqd matters for that. Second, they may not go to graduate school directly out of college.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 17:43
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:that's a big $ difference over 4 years. With grad school in sight, I would recommend less expensive college. Nobody cares about what school undergrad degree is from, once you get a master's / first job. This is what we did - less expensive undergrad with post-grad in mind.
Sure they do.
When I hire and there is a post-grad or a first job, I may glance at the undergrad degree, but only as a conversational item. Nobody cares what HS you went to once you are in college. Same here.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 15:40
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Anonymous wrote:that's a big $ difference over 4 years. With grad school in sight, I would recommend less expensive college. Nobody cares about what school undergrad degree is from, once you get a master's / first job. This is what we did - less expensive undergrad with post-grad in mind.
Sure they do.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 15:32
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
that's a big $ difference over 4 years. With grad school in sight, I would recommend less expensive college. Nobody cares about what school undergrad degree is from, once you get a master's / first job. This is what we did - less expensive undergrad with post-grad in mind.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 15:31
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Base your decision on the program/department, not the college as a whole. Which program is stronger in his chosen major? Which one is doing more high quality research and work? Which offers better job placement or grad school acceptance?More merit aid isn't worth a program that doesn't buy him much on the end.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 15:26
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Anonymous wrote:I'd rather not name the schools because I don't want to invite scrutiny about the specific choices. But the Bucknell/Lafayette vs. Juniata/Whittier comparison is about right. That's what I'm looking at.
Then yes it's worth it to pay more. Make your kid take some loans.
Anonymous
04/13/2026 15:22
Subject: Extra cost worth it? What would you do?
Anonymous wrote:It is tough. My kid is also STEM and is torn between UIUC in Illinois for $65k or Maryland-College Park at about half that, and also wants to go to grad school. We could pay for UIUC but I'm pretty sure it'll end up being College Park. It took me a while to warm up to it but I will be happy about the close distance.
If there's something special about the lower-ranked school - like the kid got into a special honors program or there's an amazing company down the road that regularly hires interns- I'd save the money for grad school. Otherwise, it's tough and I'd let the kid decide after talking to current students.
This isn’t remotely similar, your kid’s choices are peer schools. There won’t be any difference in outcomes.