Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 20:01     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
I am happy to spend the money on an expensive school for my kid. I have worked really hard and made sacrifices to do this. My parents did the same thing for me and I had an incredible four years at college and made lifelong friends and professional contacts.

Yes, one can do that at a cheaper school. But if my kid decides that an expensive school is really the right place for them for good reasons, I'm spending the money. I will make sure it is the right reasons.

But this is how I prioritize my money. And I'm fortunate to have the resources to do so. Many others don't, and their priorities are different, and I 100% respect that. Not for me to judge. But don't judge me either.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 19:15     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:It’s the lifetime connections that Duke grads enjoy.


Oh yes, the intangibles that can't be measured. lol
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 19:02     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
It’s the lifetime connections that Duke grads enjoy.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 18:11     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many kids would spend the 90k on a school, if it was their money to control.

Mine is willing to use all their inheritance money - $90K - on Penn State. The rest is coming from their 529. Total cost will be about $300K.

Yes, I'm the 'is penn state worth $300K' poster.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 17:43     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Duke-checks all the boxes.


Not worth the $$$ imho



Especially since Duke is $98,057 and that does not include transportation which Duke guesses to range betwwen $582 and $1,317 per semester. That also doesn't include health care. https://financialaid.duke.edu/how-aid-calculated/cost-attendance/
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 17:24     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To us, schools with the greatest proportion of high-achieving, intellectually top 1% and most driven students were what we sought. That list was about 23-24: 18 ivy and close to ivy unis, and 5-6 top lacs.
In addition, we wanted schools which open all the doors to the most elite jobs as well as all tip-top MD, phD, JD programs. The latter list has been studied by many and coined ivy-plus: all 8 ivies plus Stanford MIT Duke and UChicago.
The dream was one of the 12, the good-enough was one of the 23. We have two attending ivies and the third is almost certain to get into one of the 23.
It has been well worth the 88-93k per year for each so far.
These schools happen to offer the best aid, such that families below 300k HHI often get at least some discount, and below 200k hefty discounts. Fewer than 45% pay full price and that % is dropping every year at our ivies, but the schools remain worthy of every penny. It has nothing to do with dorms or food, it is about doors opened, top peers, and endless opportunities (often funded).


Interesting. UMD Honors College has a pipeline to top MD/PhD/JD etc. It’s a gem for sure, especially since most of those kids are also getting merit money.


UMD honors college does not have a peer group on par with that of an ivy/T10 nor does it "pipeline" an above average 3.8 but not stellar 3.95+ into T14 law, T20 med the same way ivies do.


Many, many kids in UMD Honors College also got into Ivies (so it is literally the same) and do indeed go into top grad programs. But it sounds like you will never be convinced otherwise.


No one wants to believe they could go to UMD for free (BK scholarship) and have the same results as someone spending $400k.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 17:21     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To us, schools with the greatest proportion of high-achieving, intellectually top 1% and most driven students were what we sought. That list was about 23-24: 18 ivy and close to ivy unis, and 5-6 top lacs.
In addition, we wanted schools which open all the doors to the most elite jobs as well as all tip-top MD, phD, JD programs. The latter list has been studied by many and coined ivy-plus: all 8 ivies plus Stanford MIT Duke and UChicago.
The dream was one of the 12, the good-enough was one of the 23. We have two attending ivies and the third is almost certain to get into one of the 23.
It has been well worth the 88-93k per year for each so far.
These schools happen to offer the best aid, such that families below 300k HHI often get at least some discount, and below 200k hefty discounts. Fewer than 45% pay full price and that % is dropping every year at our ivies, but the schools remain worthy of every penny. It has nothing to do with dorms or food, it is about doors opened, top peers, and endless opportunities (often funded).


Interesting. UMD Honors College has a pipeline to top MD/PhD/JD etc. It’s a gem for sure, especially since most of those kids are also getting merit money.


UMD honors college does not have a peer group on par with that of an ivy/T10 nor does it "pipeline" an above average 3.8 but not stellar 3.95+ into T14 law, T20 med the same way ivies do.


Many, many kids in UMD Honors College also got into Ivies (so it is literally the same) and do indeed go into top grad programs. But it sounds like you will never be convinced otherwise.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 15:20     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:Duke-checks all the boxes.


Not worth the $$$ imho
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 15:03     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
BC and Holy Cross are worth the money if one can afford them. HC has a phenomenal alumni network and kids find that a big plus especially those pursuing business careers.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 14:16     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
I wonder how many kids would spend the 90k on a school, if it was their money to control.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 14:16     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Of the Catholic schools (BC, Villanova, Holy Cross, etc) are there any that would be deemed worth the money? Or better to go to one of the second tier Catholic schools with a ton of merit such as Loyola, Providence, Fairfield, etc.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 14:11     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Duke-checks all the boxes.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 13:35     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:To us, schools with the greatest proportion of high-achieving, intellectually top 1% and most driven students were what we sought. That list was about 23-24: 18 ivy and close to ivy unis, and 5-6 top lacs.
In addition, we wanted schools which open all the doors to the most elite jobs as well as all tip-top MD, phD, JD programs. The latter list has been studied by many and coined ivy-plus: all 8 ivies plus Stanford MIT Duke and UChicago.
The dream was one of the 12, the good-enough was one of the 23. We have two attending ivies and the third is almost certain to get into one of the 23.
It has been well worth the 88-93k per year for each so far.
These schools happen to offer the best aid, such that families below 300k HHI often get at least some discount, and below 200k hefty discounts. Fewer than 45% pay full price and that % is dropping every year at our ivies, but the schools remain worthy of every penny. It has nothing to do with dorms or food, it is about doors opened, top peers, and endless opportunities (often funded).


Which 23?
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 13:31     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:To us, schools with the greatest proportion of high-achieving, intellectually top 1% and most driven students were what we sought. That list was about 23-24: 18 ivy and close to ivy unis, and 5-6 top lacs.
In addition, we wanted schools which open all the doors to the most elite jobs as well as all tip-top MD, phD, JD programs. The latter list has been studied by many and coined ivy-plus: all 8 ivies plus Stanford MIT Duke and UChicago.
The dream was one of the 12, the good-enough was one of the 23. We have two attending ivies and the third is almost certain to get into one of the 23.
It has been well worth the 88-93k per year for each so far.
These schools happen to offer the best aid, such that families below 300k HHI often get at least some discount, and below 200k hefty discounts. Fewer than 45% pay full price and that % is dropping every year at our ivies, but the schools remain worthy of every penny. It has nothing to do with dorms or food, it is about doors opened, top peers, and endless opportunities (often funded).


Interesting. UMD Honors College has a pipeline to top MD/PhD/JD etc. It’s a gem for sure, especially since most of those kids are also getting merit money.


UMD honors college does not have a peer group on par with that of an ivy/T10 nor does it "pipeline" an above average 3.8 but not stellar 3.95+ into T14 law, T20 med the same way ivies do.
Anonymous
Post 01/01/2026 13:19     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:To us, schools with the greatest proportion of high-achieving, intellectually top 1% and most driven students were what we sought. That list was about 23-24: 18 ivy and close to ivy unis, and 5-6 top lacs.
In addition, we wanted schools which open all the doors to the most elite jobs as well as all tip-top MD, phD, JD programs. The latter list has been studied by many and coined ivy-plus: all 8 ivies plus Stanford MIT Duke and UChicago.
The dream was one of the 12, the good-enough was one of the 23. We have two attending ivies and the third is almost certain to get into one of the 23.
It has been well worth the 88-93k per year for each so far.
These schools happen to offer the best aid, such that families below 300k HHI often get at least some discount, and below 200k hefty discounts. Fewer than 45% pay full price and that % is dropping every year at our ivies, but the schools remain worthy of every penny. It has nothing to do with dorms or food, it is about doors opened, top peers, and endless opportunities (often funded).


Interesting. UMD Honors College has a pipeline to top MD/PhD/JD etc. It’s a gem for sure, especially since most of those kids are also getting merit money.