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It's not stated, so I assume that the current "all in" cost is about $75-80k. Some private universities in the Boston area are not far behind, including Brandei

It's not stated, so I assume that the current "all in" cost is about $75-80k. Some private universities in the Boston area are not far behind, including Brandeis, BU, BC, Tufts, and I believe MIT. I have a high school senior and have been visiting many schools across the U.S. and Canada since last summer. The schools with sky-high all-in costs are not even consideration. If they lop off $10k-$15k per year, we will still be paying a quarter of a million dollars for a four-year education. There are no guarantees of this, either, considering grades and our middle class AGI. The schools we have looked at are mostly public. Our in-state dream option, UMass Amherst, is "only" ~$30k/year all in, but is now super-competitive, likely because of outrageous private college costs driving families to the affordable options. The only comparable values are the schools we have seen in Canada - University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and Concordia. Out-of-state public universities for out of state students in New England (URI, UConn, UVM) plus Pitt and Temple are generally high 40s/low 50s. CU Boulder was mid-upper 50s. I can't remember UCSD but it in that range, plus travel considerations.

tzs 7y ago
> I have a high school senior and have been visiting many schools across the U.S. and Canada since last summer. The schools with sky-high all-in costs are not even consideration. If they lop off $10k-$15k per year, we will still be paying a quarter of a million dollars for a four-year education. There are no guarantees of this, either, considering grades and our middle class AGI. You might want to reconsider those "schools with sky-high all-in costs". Many of them have very generous non-loan aid packages, which for many people can actually bring the effective cost below those of state schools. For example, take Harvard, which totals about $74k/year. A family of 3 (2 parents, 1 child) with $160k/year gross income only ends up having to cover $25k/year. A similar family with $120k/year pays $13k/year. They have a net price calculator here [1] if you want to see what it would cost you. [1] https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculat...
- ilamont 7y ago
  I've seen private schools promoting such aid, but for most there is no clarity on A) whether your student will qualify and B) what the amount will be over the 4-year period. I've heard from friends with students already in college that there are often ad hoc negotiations between parents and financial aid offices about the size of the discount, which is frustrating, unfair, and open to abuse.
  - closeparen 7y ago
    Financial aid offices typically offer a lightweight calculator you can run when shopping, and a more intense application you can run in parallel with your application for admission. You get a formal aid offer with your acceptance before you have to commit.
    - lonelappde 7y ago
      Formal 1 yr offer, not 4 yr offer, so be careful. It's a bit of a trick, that part.

tzs 7y ago

> I have a high school senior and have been visiting many schools across the U.S. and Canada since last summer. The schools with sky-high all-in costs are not even consideration. If they lop off $10k-$15k per year, we will still be paying a quarter of a million dollars for a four-year education. There are no guarantees of this, either, considering grades and our middle class AGI. You might want to reconsider those "schools with sky-high all-in costs". Many of them have very generous non-loan aid packages, which for many people can actually bring the effective cost below those of state schools. For example, take Harvard, which totals about $74k/year. A family of 3 (2 parents, 1 child) with $160k/year gross income only ends up having to cover $25k/year. A similar family with $120k/year pays $13k/year. They have a net price calculator here [1] if you want to see what it would cost you. [1] https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculat...

ilamont 7y ago
I've seen private schools promoting such aid, but for most there is no clarity on A) whether your student will qualify and B) what the amount will be over the 4-year period. I've heard from friends with students already in college that there are often ad hoc negotiations between parents and financial aid offices about the size of the discount, which is frustrating, unfair, and open to abuse.
- closeparen 7y ago
  Financial aid offices typically offer a lightweight calculator you can run when shopping, and a more intense application you can run in parallel with your application for admission. You get a formal aid offer with your acceptance before you have to commit.
  - lonelappde 7y ago
    Formal 1 yr offer, not 4 yr offer, so be careful. It's a bit of a trick, that part.