Graduating Debt Free vs. Degree Prestige.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Alright, here's what I have.</p>

<p>At this very moment I am in am tossing around University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Washington and Jefferson University, Allegheny College, and I just recently got my William and Mary acceptance letter.</p>

<p>U of I I have prepaid tuition for so I can graduate debt free.</p>

<p>W&J and AC I have substantial aid offers, can probably graduate debt free but will require an extra possibly 7-8 thousand dollars per year.</p>

<p>William and Mary I have not received an aid statement from but I am estimating that I am 18 thousand dollars short per year at this very moment, and may need loans.</p>

<p>I'm leaning towards majoring in history.</p>

<p>What do you think would be the best decision based on the quality and prestige of the degree against the price?</p>

<p>Any opinions would be welcomed.</p>

2

<p>I would go Illinois, great college. Especially debt free!</p>

3

<p>I like W&M a lot, but I’m not sure that Illinois is any less prestigious!</p>

4

<p>It would be crazy not to graduate debt free if you can.</p>

5

<p>graduate debt free. in this economy… esp if you want to go to grad school…</p>

6

<p>Illinois is a great school so go there</p>

7

<p>UIUC is AWESOME. I agree with all.</p>

8

<p>Top 25 in History too. </p>

<p>[NRC</a> Rankings in History](<a href=“http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area38.html]NRC”>http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area38.html)</p>

9

<p>I personally would go with fit in this case. This might imply investigating the overall environment at all of your choices, possibly more than you already have.</p>

<p>$7-8K per year isn’t insurmountable. You can probably earn that much through part-time and summer work.</p>

<p>Granted, $18K per year for 4 years might be a bit steep. Incidentally, UIUC and W&M strike me as being opposites in a lot of ways.</p>

<p>Of course, if you decide UIUC is the best fit, it’s a moot point (-:</p>

10

<p>^Is “fit” worth so much money??</p>

11

<p>you should choose a school that offers more money. I don’t think the two schools differ that much in prestige though. If it was yale vs. UIUC than well I would go to yale lol.</p>

12

<p>Alright folks, thanks.</p>

<p>I just got into Washington and Lee University today, it’s definately my dream school, but it’s about $10,000 more than W&M. However, at least here, it’s considered about on par with W&M</p>

<p>Granted I haven’t got any financial aid from either yet… so fingers crossed.</p>