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Stanford is an image-obsessed academic-business operation that's ridiculously expensive for students. Note also that Stanford featured fairly prominently in the

Stanford is an image-obsessed academic-business operation that's ridiculously expensive for students. Note also that Stanford featured fairly prominently in the recent admissions scandals, in which parents paid bribes to ensure acceptance. > "The annual tuition and living expense budget to go to Stanford was $78,218 for the 2020/2021 academic year. The cost is the same for all students regardless of California residence status as there is no in-state discount." - collegecalc.org Why go to Stanford then? Is it the world-class education, or is the networking opportunities, the chance to meet the children of other extremely wealthy parents who might ease your way into a lucrative job opportunity post-graduation? Since the students are certainly not the ones footing the bill for an ~320,000 four-year education, this marketing operation is aimed at the parents, most likely. Safe, controlled, bland...

malandrew 4y ago
~$78k post tax, means that someone likely needs to earn $120k or more in income to foot this bill. That’s an astronomical sum when you consider that the US median household income is about ~$71k. $120k is around 87th percentile.
- dragonwriter 4y ago
  > ~$78k post tax, means that someone likely needs to earn $120k or more in income to foot this bill. You seem to be assuming a 35% total tax rate at $120k gross income, which seems wildly high.
  - dmitrygr 4y ago
    Actually that’s low if you live in CA and are paying that state tax too
    - reducesuffering 4y ago
      You both should just do the calculation, as you're both incorrect. A single 120k income in CA will have 30% income taxed in total, leaving ~84k. https://smartasset.com/taxes/california-tax-calculator#KqAFYxsdZP https://smartasset.com/taxes/california-tax-calculator#KqAFY...
- banatan 4y ago
  The high cost definitely makes it less accessible, but also remember that Stanford offers a huge amount of financial aid, so families that earn less than $150k pay zero tuition.

malandrew 4y ago

~$78k post tax, means that someone likely needs to earn $120k or more in income to foot this bill. That’s an astronomical sum when you consider that the US median household income is about ~$71k. $120k is around 87th percentile.

dragonwriter 4y ago
> ~$78k post tax, means that someone likely needs to earn $120k or more in income to foot this bill. You seem to be assuming a 35% total tax rate at $120k gross income, which seems wildly high.
- dmitrygr 4y ago
  Actually that’s low if you live in CA and are paying that state tax too
  - reducesuffering 4y ago
    You both should just do the calculation, as you're both incorrect. A single 120k income in CA will have 30% income taxed in total, leaving ~84k. https://smartasset.com/taxes/california-tax-calculator#KqAFYxsdZP https://smartasset.com/taxes/california-tax-calculator#KqAFY...
banatan 4y ago
The high cost definitely makes it less accessible, but also remember that Stanford offers a huge amount of financial aid, so families that earn less than $150k pay zero tuition.