Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:40     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:If I were HYP, I’d go tuition free for all. And I’d charge everyone for room and board.

It’s true students would take out loans, but those loans would be similar to what kids were taking out in the 80s, adjusted for inflation.

And I’d cut the entire FA dept. No need. If they need to offer low/no interest loan products, sure. They can find a finance partner for that.


Agree w this. I dont think all loans are bad. They just got out of control. And I dont think colleges should be on the hook to feed other people's kids.

Everyone should have to pay something. Taking out some loans for top schools is a total investment in yourself. My kid makes 20k a summer. His roommate in finance makes double.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:32     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:Why do people even apply to private colleges if they can’t afford it? I don’t get the mindset that you have a right to go to an expensive, private college.


Sounds to me like the private colleges are actively inviting them to apply.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:32     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It shouldn’t be all or nothing. Someone making $190k can afford plenty tuition. Someone making $120k can afford some tuition. It pisses me off that I have to pay more so that someone else can pay nothing. We’ll likely be skipping private schools for OOS.


Very few private schools do what OP is talking about. My kids get merit aid at private schools, and we didn't even submit FA forms (and they have high SATs but not straight As).


op said very clearly that lots of people get 20-25k off tuition and can't afford it. there is a big drop at some schools when your income hits mid-200s and that includes all income: salary but investment income/interest etc

this is for FA, not merit
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:25     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:It shouldn’t be all or nothing. Someone making $190k can afford plenty tuition. Someone making $120k can afford some tuition. It pisses me off that I have to pay more so that someone else can pay nothing. We’ll likely be skipping private schools for OOS.


Very few private schools do what OP is talking about. My kids get merit aid at private schools, and we didn't even submit FA forms (and they have high SATs but not straight As).
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:23     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just wait till rich parents falsify their incomes and assets to have their children attend private colleges for free.


wealthy people have always done this. I stopped going to my kids orthodontist bcs he kept telling me how his three kids go to college for free because he'd hide all his money in the business.


Gross.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:20     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:Just wait till rich parents falsify their incomes and assets to have their children attend private colleges for free.


wealthy people have always done this. I stopped going to my kids orthodontist bcs he kept telling me how his three kids go to college for free because he'd hide all his money in the business.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:19     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m wondering what the real motivation is for some schools to do this.

Hopkins is doing it, right?

While I know one kid currently at Hopkins, I know a dozen who passed on the school because of its location (read: fear).

So is that why some schools are doing this? To attract smart kids who could go to pretty much any other school on a full ride?

I just wish someone could figure out how to make college more affordable. It’s all become ridiculously expensive.



It’s done for marketing, PR, and virtue signaling, of course


A lot of the schools doing this have sub-10% admit rates.

Great news, it’s very affordable to attend the school you have no change of being admitted to.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:15     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:Just wait till rich parents falsify their incomes and assets to have their children attend private colleges for free.


Why wait? This is already happening. Not the very rich, of course—for them, the cost of college is trivial, because the sliding-scale pricing only applies to the poor.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:14     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Now colleges take 5.65% of non sheltered assets.

I’d like to see a college take 2% of all assets. The 4mm house isn’t sheltered. The boat isn’t sheltered. Retirement isn’t protected.

I guess there’s some calculation for income. Like 5% over 150k.

Add up what you got and that’s it.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:13     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Just wait till rich parents falsify their incomes and assets to have their children attend private colleges for free.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:12     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:No free tuition, pass a law that education tuition can't be used to subsidize others. It's ok if it's from donation directly to a fund for the poors.

Say good-bye to in-state tuition! Why do you think the out of state kids pay double?
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:12     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:Does this mean that if you have a house that is now worth $750,000 but you make under $200,000 a year that you will not qualify for free tuition?

Kind of. It's geared towards people who own businesses and can make their income look artificially low while sitting on tons of assets.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:06     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:It shouldn’t be all or nothing. Someone making $190k can afford plenty tuition. Someone making $120k can afford some tuition. It pisses me off that I have to pay more so that someone else can pay nothing. We’ll likely be skipping private schools for OOS.


It's not all or nothing.

I bet this is just the tip of the iceberg of what pisses you off.
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:05     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is the sort of post that only someone who was never close to qualifying for financial aid could make. Do you think at the colleges that are tuition free for families earning under $200k are giving nothing to families who earn $201k? NO!!!!

You are wrong. In fact those colleges are giving nothing to families that earn $201k, and even $150k, if those families have saved responsibility. On the other hand, there are irresponsible families (or families who are particularly good at hiding assets) who are getting some aid up to $250k or even more.


exhasusting?
Anonymous
Post 11/14/2025 09:04     Subject: "free tuition for people making under $x" is problematic
If I were HYP, I’d go tuition free for all. And I’d charge everyone for room and board.

It’s true students would take out loans, but those loans would be similar to what kids were taking out in the 80s, adjusted for inflation.

And I’d cut the entire FA dept. No need. If they need to offer low/no interest loan products, sure. They can find a finance partner for that.