Confused about how much college we can afford

<p>If you can pay $15k to 20k per year, then your D would need a full tuition or near full tuition scholarship so that your money can pay for room, board, books, fees, and any remaining tuition.</p>

<p>Thumper is right. Also look at your instate publics. With your contribution and a student loan, an instate public may be affordable. Does your state have a “public LAC”?</p>

<p>What is her likely major or career goal? </p>

<p>Is your D graduating next June?</p>

<p>Momtotwins brings up some excellent points. I’ve been through this a number of times, and I can tell you that financial curve balls come up a lot, both with the student and with family. Job and pay get cut, people die and get sick. Important needs arise. </p>

<p>My current college kid is very careful with money and plans things carefully and meticulously. Even so, ,he ran into issues last year and we were hit with some difficulties on the homefront limiting what we could do. That he had that cache of Direct loans he could take since he did not borrow to make this work, made it so easy. Paying it back has not been so easy, as he wanted to be rid of it in a year–not part of his financial plan to owe, and he now feels first hand the effects of a high interest rate.</p>