<p>Did anyone receive the enrollment packet from RPI. In it it lists the new tuition and room and board rates for 2007-08. Tuition, room and board $45k, required laptop $2k, fees $1k, books and expenses $2k - Is RPI $50k a year?</p>
<p>edit above post "Is RPI worth $50k a year?" Sorry about that.</p>
<p>You need to take out merit aid to come down to the net cost of schools. For my daughter, RPI is right around the middle of her schools from a cost perspective. An out-of-state state school is actually more expensive and then there are the LACs that don't give merit aid, only need-based and will be off the chart cost-wise. Another consideration is that RPI typically does not require a minimum GPA to continue merit aid - that is really great. Many high schools students are used to having in excess of a 4.0 - it is not as easy to get straight As in college. Another thing to consider and compare are other out-of-pocket expenses. My son has hardly spent any money during his first year at RPI. There are a ton of activities that are free or low-cost. The dining plan has bonus dollars that allow him to buy meals/snacks on campus. City buses are free for students. He can visit his girlfriend at a neighboring college for free on weekends.</p>
<p>RatedPG: Where did you get that info? I can't seem to find it an "enrollment packet" anyplace around here...</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Weenie, RatedPG is referring to the "You're In" folder. My daughter received hers yesterday - It was a large envelope from admissions which contains all of the forms that are needed (housing, medical, Student Orientation, laptop info, etc).</p>
<p>Oh OK. Maybe my son's will come today. I've been trying to track down all the 2007-2008 costs; otherwise it feels like we're comparing apples to oranges. Thanks.</p>
<p>Here's how I justify the cost. Engineers are licensed professionals. Further, a degree in IT, computer science, or management should qualify you for a decent career out of undergrad. A master's could be done later or while working. Unfortunately, a liberal arts degree from an expensive, private college is becoming a prohibitively expensive career path. College costs have pushed up the timing of some decisions and it's not really fair to a high schooler who's not yet sure of what he wants to do.</p>
<p>Yes it's worth it. I received the most aid from RPI from all of the schools I applied to. Not to mention our graduates pay off loans quickly because of the types of jobs you get when you graduate. I don't mean to say this justifies the cost of tuition but it does help to make sense of the costs.</p>
<p>is merit aid available for international students</p>
<p>yeah but to "a limited number of their most qualified applicants" (quoting the words of what an RPI admin counselor emailed me)</p>
<p>^ thanks for the info</p>