<p>Hey everyone! I was recently admitted to Purdue University's Computer Science program for Fall 2011. I talked to the financial aid office and I will be expected to pay 36,692.00 a year. My computer science program was based in Java - not C so this will extend my graduation time by a semester or two. If I am there for 2.5 years, I will be paying 91730$. Is this reasonable? Is there anything I can do besides taking out loans to pay for this? I know the job outlook from this school is amazing - My friend just graduated from there and is getting a base salary of 85,000$ a year(plus an amazing signing bonus and lots of stock). What do you think I should do?</p>
<p>You still have time to apply for outside scholarships, which you can continue doing throughout the year. There are a lot of websites that will help you search for them. You can also resubmit your FAFSA and other financial aid information for next year, so you might get even more financial aid.</p>
<p>That aside, I don’t think taking out loans would be the worst thing in the world. Like you said, you’re very likely to get a good job after graduation so you wouldn’t have trouble paying them off. Education lasts you a lifetime - it’s up to you whether you want to continue paying for it or not.</p>
<p>Definitely look at scholarships and things. If you have good job prospects, then I would definitely take out the loans.</p>
<p>Well, what was your plan when you applied? What had you expected for financial aid? What are your other options and what do they cost?</p>
<p>Go to a student loan calculator (you can google one), put in the interest rate and term in years and see what your monthly payment will be. Might be in the range of $1000/month.</p>
<p>If you get a $60,000 job (in today’s $ and being more conservative than what your friend got), that would be doable. Might mean you don’t have much available for savings early in your career and could work if you live in a low cost of living area. In a high cost of living area, will feel more tight, but could be doable.</p>
<p>Honestly, I had no plan. My parents said they would find some way to take out loans and that we would figure it out if I got accepted. My only other option is my current state school(University of Memphis) which has an atrocious CS department with nil job prospects. What I gathered from this is:</p>
<p>If I get paid 60,000$ a year after graduation, paying off this loan is very doable assuming I will be living a frugal lifestyle.So if I got a higher paying job, it would allow me to pay the loan off sooner and or save more money. If that is the case, I will accept the decision and try to find other scholarships, but in the worst case scenario I will be fine. Thanks!</p>