Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 10:12     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
OP- I assume you can’t afford it and that’s why you’re asking- are you asking is it worth it if it means going into debt?

If you can comfortably afford it without making any sacrifices, then “worth it” doesn’t really matter.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 10:12     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re fortunate to be able to afford full tuition anywhere. We told both DCs that money did not need to factor into their school choices, and we meant it.


The question is not whether you can afford or pay for it, the question is what college is actually worth 90,000 per year. So, if you believe your particular college is/was , state your reasons supporting that.


DH went to an ivy, and I went to a top SLAC. Both of us had transformative educational experiences there, well with the expense. Our DCs both chose wonderful but expensive schools, and we are fine with that.


Still doesn't answer the question. Many kids go to college and I would say many have "transformational educational experiences" while in college. Is that unique cause your kid went to an "Ivy"? I think the OP is getting at investment $$$ and return $$$$ compared to a less expensive option.


There’s a difference between going to a college close to home with students that were just like the ones in your high school versus a new location with people from all over who have same or better intellect to push you. Neither is a bad choice, but they are different.


You can go to a great school not close to home with kids who have same or better intellect and not pay 90,000 per year.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 10:04     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re fortunate to be able to afford full tuition anywhere. We told both DCs that money did not need to factor into their school choices, and we meant it.


The question is not whether you can afford or pay for it, the question is what college is actually worth 90,000 per year. So, if you believe your particular college is/was , state your reasons supporting that.


DP. 90k is the going rate. When you say ‘Worth it’ you are asking people to ascribe a value to it. But it’s just the cost of the thing. I mean does it really matter if it’s 90k 80k or 70k?? Like, If you want a luxury suv. Same thing. It’s just how much it costs. I don’t think about ‘are these things worth it’. I want it so I’m paying for it and it honestly never occurs to me as I’m driving - was this worth it - because I’m not comparing my experience to the Hyundai sitting next to me at the stop light. Maybe some people go through life thinking that way but I don’t.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 10:02     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:Don't understand why folks complain about the 90k+ in tuition/room costs for higher education and instead are completely okay with buying an suv/car that is 100k+ that is a depreciating asset


People have different values and that’s ok. I value education. It’s ok if someone else values their car.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 10:02     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:As far as worth it as investment and return on paying 90,000 per year. This is a good site to see median salaries after graduation by US Dept of Education on every school.

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/search/?page=0&search=yale+university


This is one aspect of its worth though which is what people are point out. There will be no consensus as everyone has different opinions on whether it’s only salary outcome or the experience having intrinsic value you can’t put a number on.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:58     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re fortunate to be able to afford full tuition anywhere. We told both DCs that money did not need to factor into their school choices, and we meant it.


The question is not whether you can afford or pay for it, the question is what college is actually worth 90,000 per year. So, if you believe your particular college is/was , state your reasons supporting that.


DH went to an ivy, and I went to a top SLAC. Both of us had transformative educational experiences there, well with the expense. Our DCs both chose wonderful but expensive schools, and we are fine with that.


Still doesn't answer the question. Many kids go to college and I would say many have "transformational educational experiences" while in college. Is that unique cause your kid went to an "Ivy"? I think the OP is getting at investment $$$ and return $$$$ compared to a less expensive option.


There’s a difference between going to a college close to home with students that were just like the ones in your high school versus a new location with people from all over who have same or better intellect to push you. Neither is a bad choice, but they are different.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:58     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:For my family, it was MIT. DH would have happily paid if our kid (Asian male, no admission hook, CS major, excellent academic credentials) got into it.

Thank God, he did not get in. Graduating from UMD with a double major and FAANG job just for the price of room and board. The generous scholarship meant he has no student debt, a healthy Roth (converted college fund) and $50K in savings thanks to multiple internships.


Bravo. Good decision.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:56     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
As far as worth it as investment and return on paying 90,000 per year. This is a good site to see median salaries after graduation by US Dept of Education on every school.

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/search/?page=0&search=yale+university
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:52     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re fortunate to be able to afford full tuition anywhere. We told both DCs that money did not need to factor into their school choices, and we meant it.


The question is not whether you can afford or pay for it, the question is what college is actually worth 90,000 per year. So, if you believe your particular college is/was , state your reasons supporting that.


DH went to an ivy, and I went to a top SLAC. Both of us had transformative educational experiences there, well with the expense. Our DCs both chose wonderful but expensive schools, and we are fine with that.


Still doesn't answer the question. Many kids go to college and I would say many have "transformational educational experiences" while in college. Is that unique cause your kid went to an "Ivy"? I think the OP is getting at investment $$$ and return $$$$ compared to a less expensive option.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:52     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s like anything else you buy in life. Is that house, new phone, car, TV, purse, lessons, etc worth it?
It all depends on what you can easily afford.

Nobody needs most of the stuff they own, tbh.

Same logic for college. How do you define worth it? Dollar for dollar ROI? Then no, none of them are worth it. But then neither is a car that can do more than drive or anything more than a few outfits or a simple $2 bag that can hold things instead of a fancy purse.

The key is to live within your means. You don’t need an expensive college to end up making a decent salary. However future salary isn’t the only value from college just like getting from A to B isn’t the only value from a car or “holding things” isn’t the only value from a purse.

You have to decide for you what is worth it. Crowd sourcing that will give you the full range of opinions as it should.



Very well said.


Adding my answer, we’re paying that for a T15 in a field that doesn’t need connections per se. I do think they are having a superior experience than our flagship could provide in terms of personal growth. They’ve met the most incredible people from all over, found a partner that is similarly driven that will likely go the distance, but if not, has set a high bar. For us, it’s all worth it. I’d prefer to spend my moment on that than handbags. I value education, travel, having a nice home and furnishings, but don’t care about other luxury goods.

I think this post says it well. A $90k college is a luxury good. Some rich people spend their money on luxury goods, others don’t, and still others pick and choose (travel but not handbags, college but not sports cars). If you don’t see the value of a $90k school, then it isn’t worth it to you and you shouldn’t spend $90k on college.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:49     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:From your personal experience or colleges you toured, which are standouts that really impress you to be worth the full tuition? Less interested in HYPMS, rather ones that are not as prestigious but you think are comparable or even better.


None zero nadda
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:45     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We’re fortunate to be able to afford full tuition anywhere. We told both DCs that money did not need to factor into their school choices, and we meant it.


The question is not whether you can afford or pay for it, the question is what college is actually worth 90,000 per year. So, if you believe your particular college is/was , state your reasons supporting that.


DH went to an ivy, and I went to a top SLAC. Both of us had transformative educational experiences there, well with the expense. Our DCs both chose wonderful but expensive schools, and we are fine with that.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:44     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
For my family, it was MIT. DH would have happily paid if our kid (Asian male, no admission hook, CS major, excellent academic credentials) got into it.

Thank God, he did not get in. Graduating from UMD with a double major and FAANG job just for the price of room and board. The generous scholarship meant he has no student debt, a healthy Roth (converted college fund) and $50K in savings thanks to multiple internships.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:43     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
If your child had a good social experience and got a job after graduation, it probably feels "worth it." If they didn't, it wasn't.
Anonymous
Post 12/31/2025 09:43     Subject: Which college is worth $90k?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It’s like anything else you buy in life. Is that house, new phone, car, TV, purse, lessons, etc worth it?
It all depends on what you can easily afford.

Nobody needs most of the stuff they own, tbh.

Same logic for college. How do you define worth it? Dollar for dollar ROI? Then no, none of them are worth it. But then neither is a car that can do more than drive or anything more than a few outfits or a simple $2 bag that can hold things instead of a fancy purse.

The key is to live within your means. You don’t need an expensive college to end up making a decent salary. However future salary isn’t the only value from college just like getting from A to B isn’t the only value from a car or “holding things” isn’t the only value from a purse.

You have to decide for you what is worth it. Crowd sourcing that will give you the full range of opinions as it should.



Very well said.


Adding my answer, we’re paying that for a T15 in a field that doesn’t need connections per se. I do think they are having a superior experience than our flagship could provide in terms of personal growth. They’ve met the most incredible people from all over, found a partner that is similarly driven that will likely go the distance, but if not, has set a high bar. For us, it’s all worth it. I’d prefer to spend my moment on that than handbags. I value education, travel, having a nice home and furnishings, but don’t care about other luxury goods.