Is Private College Worth the Cost?

[SneakyPete]

My children have all gone to community colleges (first two years) and public colleges. They got in-state scholarships and kept them and really had a ball -- even though they worked part time through school.

No matter where your child goes they have a CHOICE to seek out and cultivate relationships with fellow classmates and teachers and to pursue all that that particular campus has to offer. Every campus has some fabulous teachers, and every campus offers opportunities for education and fun....if students are motivated. A former professor of mine from a local college became a lifelong mentor and friend. Through her, I have had many professional opportunities, and before her death we had many long lunches and dinners where the talk and laughter never stopped. I will always miss her.

My children's degrees have been in liberal arts, -ologies, and art. With that type of degree it doesn't really matter what school they come from because there aren't really jobs in those fields. For a lot of non-technical, non-vocational employers "graduated college" is a block to be checked off. For my children, that has been the case and they are making good money in fields that aren't really related to their degrees of study. Similarly, their friends who went to out-of-state or private schools and got the same type of degree are doing the exact same thing....only they or their families have loans.

Because we didn't put ourselves in hock and they didn't have to take out loans to get through college, we were able to gift them with a substantial monetary gift upon graduation -- for a downpayment on a home, for travel or to attend graduate school. I guess because my husband and I both attended rather humble schools and were still able to throroughly educate ourselves (and continue to do so) and advance professionally, I place a higher value on what happens after college than what happens in college...and I think my children took that to heart as well. They viewed college as a luxurious reprieve from real life -- where they got to dabble in philosophies, explore their interests, debate for the sake of debate and be actually and intellectually YOUNG -- and they understood how lucky they were to have that opportunity.

 

[beachmouse]

One upside of the private schools is that they're frequently better at getting students all the classes they need to graduate in four years. The assumption down here at many publics seems to be that it will take five years to get the classes you need for a typical bachelor's degree.

 

[Rudyjohn]

One upside of the private schools is that they're frequently better at getting students all the classes they need to graduate in four years. The assumption down here at many publics seems to be that it will take five years to get the classes you need for a typical bachelor's degree.

Yes, at Univ. of Illinois, it's a 5 year plan for the 4 year degree.

 

[Beach Runner]

Yes, at Univ. of Illinois, it's a 5 year plan for the 4 year degree.

True at Georgia Tech in engineering. And they say each student is a heck-of-an-engineer.

If you take the M-Train at GT (management/accounting/non-engineering route) it's doable in 4. But most kids I know there take 5 because the profs there love to give D's anf F's. For example. one prof sent daughter's entire class an email one week before finals that said,"None of you will make an A or a B. Only 40% of you will pass." How about that for stressing out freshmen and sophomores? If I sent out an email like that to my students, my contract would not be renewed, even though I have tenure.

 

[Beach Runner]

One upside of the private schools is that they're frequently better at getting students all the classes they need to graduate in four years. The assumption down here at many publics seems to be that it will take five years to get the classes you need for a typical bachelor's degree.

Yes. I am doing an independent study with a student this spring so that he can graduate in a timely manner. He did last spring in Japan because that is his minor, but it put him behind in his major. But what a great experience for this student! I won't get paid for the indep study, but I don't want his parents to spend $20,000 next fall just for one class. And I enjoy teaching smart kids like him.

 

[Paula]

It never occurred to me that it could take 5 rather than 4 years to get a regular degree if the students put in the effort. Something to stay on top of. And any professor who is giving D's and F's to the majority of the students should be taken to task for teaching poorly. If a professor is teaching well, speaking clearly, giving good examples, adapting to different learning styles, and not being completely boring, most students can do well in the classroom.

 

[Beach Runner]

In the State of Georgia it's all about the HOPE Scholarship at public institutions. Many students take a minimum load (usually 12 hours) to try to maintain their GPA at 3.0 or above to keep free tuition. A 120-hour degree done 12 hours per semester means 10 semesters (5 years).

 

[Kase626]

I am currently a student at a private university, and I have happily decided to transfer to a state school.

I would rather have my family's money go towards my education than the campus landscaping.

 

[Rudyjohn]

By doing your homework and finding several schools that meet your student's needs/criteria, state or private, then you have some wiggle room. In our case, when it came down to the top 4 acceptances, it was whoever was giving the most money. Since we already knew that each were comparable, it was a no brainer.

Again, privates can be less expensive than state schools. I would consider them as equals during the early stages of the search.

 

[Chip and Dale]

When the "fat envelopes" go out from the admissions offices all over the country, they almost always include the financial aid offer. They know that families with limited resources can't make a decision without running the numbers. My advice would be to apply to the top schools that are of interest and see what happens.

At need blind universities, this offer is sort of a guarantee that you'll be able to afford it with a mix of scholarships, loans and work study options. Public Universities are more limited in their ability to make those offers as legislatures and boards can pull the rug out at any time. And these days, the endowments are still in better shape than State budgets.

When I got my packages in the mail, my state school option was ironically the most expensive. It was a very pleasant surprise.