<p>Small / rural underserved areas often offer big bucks to doctors to come in – the doctor magazines are full of such ads, offering high six figure incomes, which go REALLY far in such small towns. I guess it all depends on what one considers quality of life. For some, quality of life can never be had without immediate access to the kinds of culture that are found only in big cities. For others, quality of life is having access to a lake or mountain or other nature setting, or not having a commute or rush hour.</p>
<p>pizzagirl–I agree. We lived in a rural area for a number of years and not only were the doctors given very handsome salaries, it often came with a house either with free rent or a down-payment stipend if they preferred to buy. They were given flexible working schedules and on-call duties were at a minimum. As for access to culture, how often to people REALLY go to the symphony or museums in the areas in which they live. Most of these rural areas are within easy driving distance of major metro areas, say under 3 hours, and you can easily attend a concert, a play and a sporting event all in one weekend trip to that metro area. It is just a different way to take in these cultural events. Along with that, you have a heck of a lot of disposable income and can do a lot of traveling for the cost savings in housing alone.</p>
<p>Yes, low income is relative. And I also think it makes a difference if you’re refering to some low income in a generally not low income area.
In Philly, according to 2010 figures 36.4% of kids under 18 lived in poverty which is less than half of the $50,000 number we’ve been talking about (around $22K for a family of 4). Of that percentage, 19% lived in deep poverty which is half the poverty level, or around $11,000 for a family of 4. The median household income level for 2011 is just over $37,000. So yeah, $50K, seems pretty high income to some.</p>
<p>“In some ways being really low income is easier than making $50,000-$60,000. ( Ive done both & I am not speaking of chronic poverty)
Very low income brings eligibility for subsidizes & programs. Being lowish middle income means you pay for everything yourself.” - emeraldkity4</p>
<p>^^ Very true. As I just pointed out on another thread, in our area 50-60k isn’t enough to really be secure in housing, healthcare, etc. but you are high enough that all of theh reduced lunch based breaks on sports fees, etc. don’t apply. It’s tough to make it from 45-65k and that no-man’s land in the middle is full of jobs with poor or no benefits which makes you one MRI away from financial disaster.</p>
<p>What is controversial about stating that a lot of people don’t understand why one should pay 200K + for a liberal arts education? I understand that other people don’t share my priorities. It’s not a problem for me. I personally don’t get why people would spent 200K+ on houses, cars, vacations but not 4 years at a fabulous LAC. However, these people don’t have to justify their consumption choices to me. College is a consumption choice as well.</p>
<p>stevema, it depends where they are moving. one of my coworkers just sold her house here for 200k and bought a similarly sized house in NC for 130k. Another just purchased a home there for 80k who could only afford to rent here… same size house in our area here would run for about 120k. Another friend in orlando sold a house up here for 180k and bought the same size house down there for 120k. One coworker just bought a house in tampa where the average price is 127.8. My friend has a townhouse in orlando and units in his area are selling for 50k right now… you can get something similar here for about 130k. We’ve had 3 coworkers relocate to florida and at least three relocate to NC. one or two moved to ohio and two are about to move to Nevada where houses are averaging 158.0.</p>
<p>The link that you posted has my area currently averaging 185.4 and has orlando at 124.9 and 123.8 for the area in NC. For them to sell their house up here and buy a similar house for 60-70k less yet still have the same salary is pretty great.</p>
<p>NC here, gotta love that in-state tuition!! Undergrad is great but grad school is fantastic! Med school tuition at UNC Chapel Hill and ECU are two of the lowest in the US. UNC is ranked #2 for primary care right behind Harvard and their med school tuition is scary!</p>
<p>Love, love it here…great place to move to and retire as well.</p>
<p>Kat
yes, we moved from CA and have not looked back since…well, I looked at the UC undergrad costs and yes med school tuition, yikes!</p>
<p>the reason we moved was because I was lower income and with costs being so low here that when the kiddos went to college there would be some back-up if the FA packages SUCKED or gapped. Since tuition was so low they could conceivably make enough to pay tuition/books and commute from home and still be able to attend a school like UNC.</p>
<p>of course where they ended up for undergrad is a whole 'nother story!</p>
<p>And lest we forget, SOME very well educated people make that amount of money because they have chosen to be in social work or teach or be a minister or work in service or some other relatively low paying but high education/high value to society career. </p>
<p>I also think a college education as valued by some families who don’t have it and not by others who don’t have it. I suspect most who do have it value it for their kids. All regardless of income though of course lower incomes are likely to have fewer college grad parents than higher incomes, generally speaking.</p>
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<p>Full need can be met at not-full-need schools. It may take a lot of research and a minimum level of academic achievement, but it certainly can be done.</p>
<p>One can buy a small patio home in a nice suburb around cities in TX for about $150k. I would think, any parent in TX would think twice about spending $200k for college, when they could give their child a fully paid off house for $200k (or perhaps 2) and send their child to a good state school like UT or TX A&M for free.</p>
<p>By the way, my S attended elementary and middle school in predominantly, poor Mexican American/ Hispanic neighborhoods where the average house was less than $100k. He will be attending college.</p>
<p>I have a sibling who lives in a town of ~28,000 an hour outside of Louisville. She and H make a little over $50k. They have a nice house, two recent model cars (bought used), a boat, and have been looking at lakeside property for a cabin. They have done most of their own home renovations or have traded with friends for services, had a son in travel baseball and go on a cruise/beach vacation every year. Cost of living is very, very low.</p>
<p>One of their kids in college; took the full athletic scholarship at a junior college in Illinois instead of the two big publics that accepted him but did not offer scholarship $$. Noone thought twice about the decision (except a certain aunt and uncle who wondered about the academics there for a very strong student).</p>
<p>I suppose that is true (though in most places 50-60 would hardly be considered “lowish” middle) if, as you said, you aren’t chronically in poor. However, I doubt very many people (except maybe freeloaders!) would choose to live off benefits on a lower income. We were by no means impoverished, but my parents didn’t have very secure jobs (no college) and I remember constantly being in tough spots despite all the help we got. My parents could not have felt very good about themselves either. </p>
<p>On the other hand, some colleges do seem a lot more affordable to lower-income students than to those in middle class limbo who can’t afford to pay full sticker price.</p>
<p>I think I understand the point EKitty was making about being just over or under the “low income” line. When our oldest applied to colleges several years ago we had a family of 7 and a single modest income literally a couple thousand dollars a year over the reduced price lunch limit. Every fee really hurt. S1 applied to 2 in state schools and hoped for the best. We couldn’t afford for him to cast a wider net because the application and test fees were just too much. </p>
<p>Then the economy hit my husband’s industry hard and our income was cut in half. Now, even with fewer kids at home, we qualify for free/reduced lunch and simplified needs test. S2 was able to get fee waivers for SAT ACT APs and all his applications. He applied to 8 schools and though he was gapped at most, did get into a Meets Full Need (with Staffords) School. They expect more from us than our FAFSA EFC, but it is doable. Fortunately he did have the stats and I learned a lot lurking here.</p>
<p>Our HS Junior D does not have such high stats, but is able to get fee waivers and access to programs targeted at low income kids. Our plan is for her to commute to our local CC then hope she can transfer to a school within commuting distance. At our EFC federal and state grants would cover her tuition (even at a U) but the room and board is just too much. Her intended major won’t support much in loans. As our family shrinks and our income inches back up I’m not sure when we will leave this “sweet spot” of helpful aid. It isn’t easy at this income level, but we have always been frugal and now it is in style.</p>
<p>Back on topic: About 70% of high school students enroll in college when they graduate, although clearly not everyone finishes. I suppose most low income students simply go to community college or a local state school.</p>
<p>In Philly, about 32% enroll in the local community college. Penn state is next with 11%. Followed by Temple at 8%. The true state universities only enroll about 2% each. But only 40% of graduates are starting college the fall after graduation.</p>
<p>Speaking to the high cost of casting a wide net: Not sure what the deal is with MOST colleges but the only application fees we had to pay were for state schools. ALL the private colleges (7) waived the fee if we applied online and/or early - by Dec 1 or Jan 1.</p>
<p>I just remembered that one friend of my son’s in our neighborhood (they used to play baseball together) was offered a 1/2 tuition (1/2 ride??) scholarship for UC Riverside to play soccer, but that wasn’t enough to get him there. He’s now attending a local community college and working at Albertson’s along with two other friends, formerly from baseball. One is also in the community college and one is not attending school. All are 19.</p>