<p>Hey guys, I'm attending UC, Riverside right now and I pay about 8-10k per year. I applied to LMU and its looks like I'll be paying around 40k per year. My question is: Is it worth it to pay almost triple what I'm paying now to go to LMU? Keep in mind my family income is around 75k, so if I did go to LMU it would be heavily financed. The thought of graduating with a student loan debt of possibly 70k seems daunting to me. What do you guys think? I just don't want to throw a good opportunity away based on financial reasons.</p>
<p>“Is it worth it to pay almost triple what I’m paying now to go to LMU?”</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>“The thought of graduating with a student loan debt of possibly 70k seems daunting to me.”</p>
<p>You are correct. Even if you and your family could find organizations that would loan you that total amount of money, paying off 70k will be difficult. Run the repayment calculators at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Calculate Your Cost – BigFuture | College Board) and read up on just how bad some loan repayment experiences can be at [Project</a> on Student Debt: Voices](<a href=“http://projectonstudentdebt.org/voices_home.php]Project”>http://projectonstudentdebt.org/voices_home.php) </p>
<p>A “good opportunity” that is not truly financially viable, is not really that good of an opportunity. Unless LMU can come up with a package for you that will leave you with no more total debt than the equivalent of the Stafford Loans permitted for that number of years, you should stay where you are. UC Riverside is a perfectly fine institution. Take advantage of everything that is available there, and you will be able to meet your long-term goals. </p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>I look at UCR as a better school than LMU.</p>
<p>^^^ I agree with SMCguy…my two cents…if it were Stanford or another top tier, then another answer altogether.</p>
<p>I think UC Riverside is a better school, but even if LMU were a somewhat better school, would it be worth an extra 90k (I’m assuming you’re look at going to LMU as a sophomore)? 90k buys a house in some parts of the country.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s worth it in this case. My two cents, stay where you are.</p>
<p>what is LMU?
I go to UCBerkeley, and I certaintly believe UCR is better. And I hear they are getting med school soon too.</p>
<p>All of you, thank you.</p>
<p>Don’t fall for what I call “private school syndrome.” Just because a school is private and has regional prestige (in this case, VERY regional, say, not even beyond Los Angles) doesn’t mean it’s a better school. UC-Riverside trumps LMU any way you slice it.</p>