HELP! UT Austin or Notre Dame?

I’ve got a week to decide between Notre Dame and UT Austin. At Notre Dame, I’d be in the Mendoza College of Business, and at UT, I’d be in the Canfield Business Honors Program (BHP). I love Notre Dame and I feel like I would be a better “fit” there, but, I’d have to take out personal loans of around 30k. It’s my understanding that BHP at Texas is academically comparable to Mendoza. So, is it worth it to take out loans simply based on where I’d fit in best?

Tough call. No wrong choice unless you would be taking out $30,000 per year in student loans. But, if the total student loan debt for all 4 years totals $30,000, then it is really an issue of personal choice.

@chaleco0114 Approximately a third of undergraduate students at the University of Notre Dame utilize federal student loans to help pay for their college education, averaging $5,889 per year, resulting in federal student loans of $23,556 after four years (lastest data). Limit for federal student loans over 4 years are $27,000, close to your need if the amount you mentioned above is for all 4 years.

@chaleco0114 - I would also look at major specific rankings. Ask yourself a couple of questions - Do you have a specific business major in mind? How do they compare at the two schools? If you decide to change focus within business, which school appears to have more flexibility?

My DS '22 is an accounting major in Mendoza. So, I have a little insight to how they work. My son has two offers for internships at accounting firms for summer of '21. I think other majors in Mendoza have similar networking help students get internships that will result in a full time job offer in the Spring of their graduation year.

I have absolutely no knowledge of the B-school at UT. From what I see online, Canfield BHP is a small subset of the b-school. I imagine in that program they are very good at helping with networking to get great internships.

On the cost aspect - I love Notre Dame and the opportunities and experiences it has provided for my son. If you need to borrow $30k per year + Federal loans, I would question that level of debt. On the other hand, if it is only $30 k over the four years, I would strongly consider ND.

Best of luck to you in making this decision. I will add, you probably can’t make a bad choice.

Look at the average starting salary information from both schools for where you think you will work, and then make a decision if you think the additional cost is worth it to you. Also consider if you will go to graduate school and how you will pay for that. Good luck!

If it’s $30k total, go with fit. If it’s $30k/yr, UT hands down.