Is ~100K of debt for USC in Computer Science worth it? (And 70K for in state schools)

Just got accepted to transfer at USC, assuming I’ll need 3 years to graduate (I’m entering as a junior, but I’m giving myself the worst-case scenario here and assuming I’ll need 3 more years to finish), I’ll need 22k a year in loans to cover the cost (12k in government loans, 10k in private loans). Over 3 years, that’ll be around 66k, which is kind of iffy but not terrible imo. My biggest regret/issue is that I took out around 30K to go do flight training for a semester, I’m really kicking myself for that boneheaded move. Not to mention around 4,000 of government loans for community college. So I’d be around 100k in the hole, not looking great.

My in-state options don’t appear to be much better, UF would be around 74k in debt, and UCF would be around the same. The only option I’d have to avoid piling up debt would be commuting to FIU or FAU, or trying to get into a top-notch private who’d offer me more financial aid.

Who is going to co-sign all of those loans for you?

Stay in state & out of debt. After you have proven yourself in your first job, where you went to college won’t matter.

You already have $34k of debt. Is interest accruing on those loans? Commute to FIU or FAU.

@austinmshauri Yep, interest is already accruing. I think I’m just gonna go to FIU or FAU or just become a firefighter or just do a specialized program at my local community college. Sucks, but it is what it is I guess.

Can you get a part-time job to pay down the interest? Or work for a year or two to pay down the principal? Both FIU and FAU seem to have computer science. What did you major in at your cc?

@austinmshauri All my estimations already have me working part time through school, so I’d most likely just go part time when I continue to go to school. My major was Computer Engineering, but, USC denied my for CE but accepted me for CS (didnt really make much of a difference to me), I have a lot of friends at the FIU and FAU CS programs, but I don’t really know if I want to commuter for 90 minutes a day to either school for 2-3 years, I’d consider not going the college route, my community college has some decent programs for jobs that pay 70-80k a year, I might just do that instead.

School name/prestige won’t matter in many cases for CS - it’s the skillset/languages you have. I’d save the money and avoid the debt.

I’d look at UF and UCF first over USC - if only to save the $$$. Wouldn’t you also have increased living/travel costs between Florida/California?

@Scholar2023 If I’m not taking out 100K for USC, I won’t be taking out 75-80K for those two schools. Travel costs would be increased, but living costs would probably be around the same.

If you like the career programs at your CC, go for one of them. Work a bit. Knock down your debt. If you feel like it, pick up some classes in Comp Sci in a couple of years, and see how much you still like it. You can always return to school for that degree if you decide you want to, but meanwhile you will have a job skill and work history that will keep paying your bills.

UF ans FSU have online CS degrees. That might be worth looking into.

If you are going to USC and have been accepted as a junior, you will only receive 2 years of need based financial aid. It is going to be a real challenge if you need a third year to graduate. If you need 5 years, count on being full pay for that final year as most schools only give need based aid for a total of 4 years.

This will put your debt at way over $100k (closer to being over $150k). This is too much debt. As others are asking, who is going to co-sign this debt?

You really really need an affordable option. It looks like none of your choices are.

My D, a nursing student at the time, commuted to FIU for 2-1/2 years, 90-minutes round trip. It was all highway driving, so it was quite doable. If your schedule allows, you can possible take classes three days a week (e.g. MWF) to lessen your commuting time per week. She graduated with zero student loan debt. The only issue at the time, was finding parking at FIU.

If I was in your shoes, I would give FIU or FAU some serious consideration going forward. Both schools have a Computer Engineering Degree Program. As @happymomof1 said, After you have proven yourself in your first job, where you went to college won’t matter.

UF online has tuition capped at 75% of the normal UF tuition rate, plus they can’t charge most of the fees. Currently, it’s $129.18 (tuition and fees) per credit hour, as compared to UF’s normal residential rate of $212.71 per credit hour. That’s not that much more than the local CC’s rate.

It’s worth looking into.

https://ufonline.ufl.edu/degrees/undergraduate/computer-science/

Thanks for the advice everyone, I’m making a hail mary today to ask USC if I can get my financial aid increased, and if that fails, I’m just going to head to FIU or FAU or considering alternatives to College. Thanks for the help everyone!

@sybbie719 Thanks for the info, I didn’t realize that USC does that. If I am getting my financial aid increased, I’ll make sure to ask an advisor if it’s possible to finish in two years. That’s appreciated!

@gator88NE will definitely take a look into it, thanks!

That math doesn’t sound right. FL has the lowest tuition rates in the country. Plus, if you’re working part-time, room and board isn’t expensive there either…unless you live in Miami. You might want to go over those numbers again. I would definitely avoid USC. Unless you have wealthy parents, California is not a good place to go to college if you’re coming from out of state. Even if you managed to get the financing for everything, the debt from the cost of living alone would be enough to sink you financially.

Also, prestige is not a prerequisite to getting a job in computers. Most any decent accredited university could land you an entry level job without much trouble. FL also has a strong tech economy and most employers hire locally and regionally because it’s more cost-effective.

USC is $72K per year.

Even though the school location is not ideal, your housing in California is horrendous. Assume $2K per month, just in rent.

Who is going to be a cosigner on your loans???
That is a LOT of money that you will owe and payments begin either AS you go to school or 6 months after graduation.