Anonymous
03/11/2026 19:21
Subject: Re:Affording College
Anonymous wrote:To reach $400,000 in a 529 account in 18 years, you would need to invest roughly $1,000 to $1,150 per month, assuming an average annual return of 7–8%. - AI IS smarter than us, good grief people, SAVE.
NP who has saved but not this amount. We were paying for childcare and then aftercare for years and could not afford $1,000+ per month. Don't be discouraged if you can't save $1,000 per month. Start with a couple hundred if that is all you have. Every bit helps.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 18:56
Subject: Affording College
Anonymous wrote:Thanks for those of you providing some actual suggestions and commiserating; I appreciate hearing that I am not making this up in my mind. We do make above 200K but literally just above it effective two years ago. When C1 was born, our HHI was 65K. My annoyance is that 200K in Fairfax is not equivalent to 200K in Richmond, and I know that FAFSA doesn't take that into account at all.
C2 isn't my worry--I am positive we can play the LAC game of merit with them.
The older one wants to do engineering--specifically mechatronics. The schools I am seeing that actually have that program are seemingly unattainable. Engineering admissions programs are recommending to do STEM camps over the summer just to be admitted. We don't have the extra money to drop on those programs, and C1 is going to be working for the next two summers to save for college. Mason has an engineering program (and is C1's safety school currently), but it really isn't the nuanced area they want to student. Test scores are just above average, though rigor will be the highest possible (will have IB diploma, DE math credit).
You're not imagining this. The term is called donut hole family. Can't afford the $$$ college costs but not poor enough to get financial aid.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 16:11
Subject: Affording College
Thanks for those of you providing some actual suggestions and commiserating; I appreciate hearing that I am not making this up in my mind. We do make above 200K but literally just above it effective two years ago. When C1 was born, our HHI was 65K. My annoyance is that 200K in Fairfax is not equivalent to 200K in Richmond, and I know that FAFSA doesn't take that into account at all.
C2 isn't my worry--I am positive we can play the LAC game of merit with them.
The older one wants to do engineering--specifically mechatronics. The schools I am seeing that actually have that program are seemingly unattainable. Engineering admissions programs are recommending to do STEM camps over the summer just to be admitted. We don't have the extra money to drop on those programs, and C1 is going to be working for the next two summers to save for college. Mason has an engineering program (and is C1's safety school currently), but it really isn't the nuanced area they want to student. Test scores are just above average, though rigor will be the highest possible (will have IB diploma, DE math credit).
C2 isn't my worry--I am positive we can play the LAC game of merit with them.
The older one wants to do engineering--specifically mechatronics. The schools I am seeing that actually have that program are seemingly unattainable. Engineering admissions programs are recommending to do STEM camps over the summer just to be admitted. We don't have the extra money to drop on those programs, and C1 is going to be working for the next two summers to save for college. Mason has an engineering program (and is C1's safety school currently), but it really isn't the nuanced area they want to student. Test scores are just above average, though rigor will be the highest possible (will have IB diploma, DE math credit).
Anonymous
03/11/2026 14:13
Subject: Re:Affording College
To reach $400,000 in a 529 account in 18 years, you would need to invest roughly $1,000 to $1,150 per month, assuming an average annual return of 7–8%. - AI IS smarter than us, good grief people, SAVE.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 14:12
Subject: Affording College
Anonymous wrote:Do you drive 2 cars? Have you renovated your kitchen in the last 20 years?
This, analyze your life, you should have started saving at birth, like us. It's a choice.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 11:46
Subject: Affording College
Anonymous wrote:George Mason and live at home.
+1. Easy as that.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 11:39
Subject: Affording College
Anonymous wrote:My child is in state. Tuition room and board (off campus ) is about 25K. It Was more expensive freshman year when on campus. We take the student federal aid loans and I’m paying them off although he may have to help with next year (senior year).
Kid can work. 20 hrs per week at minimum wage (or fewer hrs during school year and more over summer) should surely make them 10k per year to pay for room and board or apt
Anonymous
03/11/2026 11:16
Subject: Affording College
George Mason and live at home.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 10:46
Subject: Affording College
My child is in state. Tuition room and board (off campus ) is about 25K. It Was more expensive freshman year when on campus. We take the student federal aid loans and I’m paying them off although he may have to help with next year (senior year).
Anonymous
03/11/2026 10:18
Subject: Affording College
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Many colleges offer generous merit.
This only works if you have decently high stats for the college you applied to. So, if you aim low, and have much higher stats than that college's median/average, then chances are you can get good merit.
DC had decently high stats and applied to a few lower ranked private schools and oos publics. DC got generous merit aid from all of them.
The other option is to cashflow some of it. Some universities have payment plans (pay in 3 installments).
+1 Apply to schools a tier or two below your kid's reach level schools to go merit hunting, cash flow a little, kid gets a part-time job during the school year and a full-time job over the summer.
OP, don't feel bad. DCUM is a wealthy bubble telling Larlo they'll swing $400K for the most elite SLAC they can get into. Most families can't afford this.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 09:32
Subject: Affording College
Surely there is an instate option for less than 20k per year. Maybe it isn’t first choice, but most in state universities are less than 20k.
Bonus if kid can live at home and commute.
Then there is always ROTC or less prestigious schools that give great scholarships. Where you go doest really matter. Always pick the school you can afford vs prestige
Bonus if kid can live at home and commute.
Then there is always ROTC or less prestigious schools that give great scholarships. Where you go doest really matter. Always pick the school you can afford vs prestige
Anonymous
03/11/2026 08:01
Subject: Affording College
Too late for you now, but one of the things I suggest to couples who plan to have a child, is to investigate what they will be paying for childcare and save that amount the year before the child is born (basically once you make the decision to start trying, start saving). Then, they need to use that money to jump start their college savings.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 07:56
Subject: Affording College
Anonymous wrote:How does the middle class in our area afford college? We are solid middle class in Fairfax (based on the Pew Research tool), which absolutely puts us out of the running for the schools with free tuition and any need-based grants. The same jobs (education and non-profit) in SW VA would likely qualify us for those opportunities because they would have a lower incomes (and we'd have a bigger house).
We will have about $50-60K in our 504 when our oldest is ready to start college. We are trying to save for retirement too. Our kiddos are academically strong with great EC, but anything more than $20 year would literally break us financially.
Is the only option community college for two years?
Your child can work in the summers in high school and save a few thousand each summer. They can continue to work in summers during college adding more. Your child can be an RA in the dorms sophomore through senior year, check with a specific college, this usually comes with free housing and meals. Instate schools, RA and summer jobs should give enough for your child. If necessary, they will be able to get away with minimal loans.
Your household expenses will decrease when your child is gone. There may be some more wiggle room for you. My dad claimed his water bill decreased by a third when I left for college.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 07:43
Subject: Affording College
Loans should be by the student, not the parents. Student needs to pick a career paying enough to afford to pay back those loans. Explain this to them now.
Anonymous
03/11/2026 07:33
Subject: Affording College
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Loans, if needed. My kid went in state (MD). Tuition, fees, room & board are $32,000. Almost everyone gets merit $, but my kid, alas, did not. We were just happy he got in, to be honest.
We can also pay about $20,000 a year, which leaves us $12,000 per year from the 529. We have enough to cover 4 years at that rate. If we didn’t, then we’d take loans to make it possible. It seems a reasonable reason to take on some debt.
Same here. But UMD gives very little merit so don't feel like your kid missed out. Virginia has more public school options but MD schools are cheaper.
He isn’t at UMD but at another one our many Maryland public colleges. Don’t forget Towson, UMBC, SMCM, etc.