<p>tryinhard, Depending on your state, you may be able to go to in state universities that are ranked higher than GWU or that are ranked about the same. There are plenty of state universities that are "good" universities. Your in state universities also may have some nice honors programs that you qualify for.</p>
<p>There also are some private universities where you might be able to get merit aid. There also are many private universities that are good and that cost far less than GWU and have more merit aid available. These schools tend to be in places like the Midwest, South and Southwest, where costs are lower, but often quality is as high or higher than schools in the NE that you may have been considering.</p>
<p>They also may have smaller classes than GWU.</p>
<p>my first post so bear with me...
my son is looking at rit with a total of approx 50,000 debt at graduation, and UB with maybe 7,000 at graduation. first choice is rit. (slightly better package from rpi and equivalent from rose hulman). while we all agree/understand the need for him to contribute i have a hard time asking him to make a decision on a debt load he has no concept of...he wants to do it but he has no idea what $600(or more!) month on top of rent/car/food is like...and how do you make the decision that going to a private school over a public u is worth incurring this type of debt? as hes says - getting a better job may not be worth it if the $ is all going out to pay off loans...i'm having a hard time giving him a definitive answer - thoughts?</p>
<p>"and how do you make the decision that going to a private school over a public u is worth incurring this type of debt? "</p>
<p>I can't imagine it being worth it to take out $50 k in debt to go to college. Such a huge debt load would seriously restrict what your son could study in college and what he could do after graduation. </p>
<p>Right now, presumably, he plans to go into engineering, which is a high paying field. However, lots of students switch out of that field or flunk out and then major in fields in which the entry level pay is not that good.</p>
<p>" as hes says - getting a better job may not be worth it if the $ is all going out to pay off loans..."</p>