I don’t know too much about it, but if you and your parents are taking out loans I’d look into tuition insurance.
It’s not at that level, by medical I mean I have addressed it an continue to have active discussions with my doctor about the issue. I’m not on medication or under any official diagnosis and don’t plan on reaching that point.
UCincy has caught my eye before. Their computer science program from what I’ve been told by current students is really suffering internally right now. I believe they’re having issues keeping faculty for more than a couple years which ruins the quality of education. Though they, on the other hand, have one of the best coop programs around as I’m sure you know. And you’re correct about the metro rates.
It’s still something I’m going back and forth about but if I do apply there it’ll be during RD.
I have two kids studying CS now (and I am a parent who studied CS long ago).
Many thoughts :
First there are tech schools like Rose Hulman (Indiana), RPI & RIT (New York), WPI (MA) and many others.
One of mine is at RPI and got into others. They are expensive, but you can get aid. You will need FAFSA and CSS finaid forms to get aid from a private school (FAFSA only from state schools). CSS is more complicated form and asks for much more info which your parents have to be willing to provide. From what I see many good students get merit aid of maybe 15-25k off the 70k cost, so you need to apply for fin aid and you’ll likely get more than that, maybe getting the cost down to your 40k target, not sure. One issue you have with tech schools, is the science portion of your ACT, it’s kinda low. Math is more important for CS specifically but tech schools wont be so happy with that science score. An SAT subject test in science may help, a higher equivalent score on the main SAT may help with admissions. Don’t have to study, just take the SAT and don’t use the score unless better than your ACT.
These test scores and GPA matter alot for getting better aid. Aid is not truly need based except at the very top schools where all students are superior.
That all said, you don’t need a tech school or a private school, most of CS you can learn well at any public college. You can go to many liberal arts colleges where your science score wont be as big a deal. Your math is good for CS.
Why are you so upset and having mental illness ? Would be easier to recommend a school if we knew specifically what you prefer ? A big city ? You said you would go anywhere so why not your state school ? Why is EVERYWHERE better ? How can anyone narrow down what is better if it’s all the same to you ? Getting a low cost education can be done in many colleges, and if you get good grades in CS and really understand what you learn it matters little where you go. But I wouldn’t list schools not knowing why you hate your state college as a choice.
That said, maybe your issues would follow you and you should focus on solving those issues. Most problems wont be solved just by moving. If you are bored, a big city may help, but they are usually expensive options for school. If you want rural, there are more economical choices.
It’s a lot of combinations for why I don’t enjoy Kentucky. Without getting very personal I’ll list the main ones:
- I was forced here from Tennessee(quite literally, when I was 9 my dad told my mom if we didn't move here he'd stop supporting us) I have wanted to go back since, as well has my mother.
- This place is really, really far from any place I actually see as a perspective employer. I know there's GREAT companies like Lexmark, HP, and I think an IBM campus here they just aren't where I could see myself.
- I am very influenced by the environment, Kentucky (or at least Central KY) for some reason has some HUGE issues with trees. They cut literally ALL the trees down every where, coming form the mountains of tennesse this is really weird for me and it may seem a bit odd but I'd just LOVE to get back to the a place with an interesting environment. (for specificity by INTERESTING I mean something unique. this could be some crazy cool mountains I could go explore or a concrete jungle with an unmatched culture (chicago or san francisco for example))
Lexington, and pretty much anywhere I’ve been in Kentucky just doesn’t have a culture I enjoy. We got horse culture here but there’s not much to that. I feel out of place and as if no one around me here truly relates to me. I’m seen as weird here for caring about how I dress. Heck, I’ve had people think I’m some weird anti social loner just for liking Computer Science; several as a matter of fact. It’s very clear that where I am is not a tech hub, or anything similar.
College for me is meant to be a period of exploration, so I can’t seem to fathom why people value getting out with as little debt as possible over ACTUALLY EXPLORING and seeing where you’d fit in within this crazy world.
But last point aside, the two initial points are the biggest factors really.
Your best options are likely to be at in-state public universities.
A few out of state public schools might fall within a ~$25K budget (or close).
https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/index.php?table=public&state_code=ALL&id=none&sortby=out_state_cost&sortorder=ASC#colleges
@filipe2019 Those sound like valid reasons, no offense to your neighbors 
I think many are averse to debt because most kids wont make much out of school. If you are good at CS, there are many good career options, you will be able to pay it back. But you may be able to find an OOS option that will require less debt than others. You should focus on schools where you have some competitive advantage in admissions to increase chances if grants over loans to reduce debt. Get A’s in CS and you’ll do well, have both career choices and grad school too. Maybe you can experience a few places, location of undergrad, couple of locations for internships, grad school and ultimatey your first full time job. May give tou better ideas where you’ll be happy and want to go longer term.
As far as admissions, gpa rising as it is, and an essay that colorfully explains your efforts to overcome challenges, will make you competitive to gain entry in many colleges. But scholarships and grant aid often have sat and gpa targets. Your test scores are all you can possibly improve now though they are very good.
I saw someone suggested George Mason U above. That is an interesting option, it is a reasonably priced school. and near DC with many career and other options. We visited, Inwas really impressed. My son got a merit scholarship that put the cost at $33k/yr. Great location and cost, and faculty/administration.
Most large city schools are very expensive but this was an exception.
In NYC, they have CUNY. Tuition is low but living expenses in NYC very high.
State schools in NY are very reasonable for OOS students, but most are in less exciting locations.
Affordable and you’ll be surrounded by people who don’t think CS is weird.
Finally, I know it’s frustrating now, but look on the bright side. National private schools want “a diverse student body” and boast how many states and countries are represented. Being from KY may give you a slot somewhere they don’t habe and want KY representation. Use it to your advantage. Apply to any schools in a location you seek, that specifically advertise “we have students from X states” !
I appreciate your excitement and dedication.
That said, it is very unrealistic to budget 6500 for an internship on an annual basis. Unless you plan on keeping what you have and can count on that income. Generally internships are very difficult to land until junior year, especially with a super competitive and popular major, nationwide. You could, possibly, save 6k over a summer depending on where you worked, if you worked 40 hours, or worked 2 jobs. This assumes you have zero costs and can save 100% of any monies earned. I certainly did in college over the summers to pay for things and it is possible. The financial cost of college now though is a lot different than when I went.
I still maintain that is far too much debt for undergrad and that you are underestimating how long it will take you to pay off. I hope that you have done the calculations to show what those payments look like AND also calculate the cost of living in a city that has the type of CS jobs you want as I suspect that will change how quickly you can pay something off.
I too would advise tuition insurance. What you do not want is to go away, have mental issues which could include not having consistent or the right kind of therapy/therapist or all kinds of things and have your parents stuck with a loan they can’t make payments on. They will be on the hook for it, not you. Things happen. Kids get mono, break a leg, have accidents that have nothing to do with mental issues.
CS does not need to be accredited. Most of the very top programs in the country are not. Like Stanford, Berkely, CMU, etc. It is not like engineering unless you want computer engineering, not CS and then yes, ABET is absolutely required. You want a solid track record of good placement and a robust career center.
Your stats are likely too low for RIT/RPI/WPI given how competitive the major is and RPI is pretty intense, given your math at the precalc level I might be cautious there. RIT however has a very strong support services program and is a FAFSA only school which will be easier for you to consider than any that as for the CSS PROFILE form. You do have a compelling story and it may be worth looking at. It is my son’s top choice but he may or may not get in (to the major) and it may or may not be affordable for us. There are many many solid CS programs out there and affordability needs to be important.
I would suggest running the net price calculator at some schools like Seattle University, University of Redlands to see if privates might offer you a bit more.
Some other ones to consider are University of Wyoming, Montana Tech, Illinois Institute of Technology, Clark College, New Mexico Tech, and Portland State. I can’t speak deeply to the CS programs but they may be worth poking around.
I really really REALLY would suggest you reconsider 60k in undergrad debt as that sounds like something your parents absolutely cannot pay if things don’t work out for you and it really will be difficult for far longer than I think you realize now
Which of your parents is planning to cosign loans for you? You can’t get private loans on your own. If your parents are low income, they may not qualify to borrow for you, so take that into account when planning your budget. The most you can borrow (the federal student loan) is only ~$5500/year.
@austinmshauri
My mom - she’s not really low income we’re just from Kentucky. Here in Kentucky we’re about middle class maybe just below it.
Thanks to the both of you for the help on this thread, I appreciate it. As I said before I try to do a lot of research but there’s just some insight that someone with experience has to let you know and I am a first generation male so the only person in my family who’s gone to college is my mom and that was 30 years ago. I appreciate the help and extra insight a ton.
It sounds like your parents are divorced. Do you live with your mom? You fill in the FAFSA with the information of the parent you live with most, so if you and your sister live with your mom you should be using her information. To do otherwise is financial aid fraud. If your mom earns too much for you to qualify for Pell, then you’ll have to make adjustments to your budget.
If you and your sister live with your dad, why would she be untruthful about the size of his family? She’s likely leaving money on the table. Why would she do that?
@filipe2019 if you mom went to college I don’t think you count as a 1st gen so be very careful there.
If your EFC is only 2k, that will be considered low income. However if you aren’t really low income, you will not qualify for Pell. Students whose total family income is $50,000 a year or less qualify, but most Pell grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000.
We are more than happy to help and guide here.
A few questions before you do your fafsa.
Who are you living with?
Do the step siblings live with you now?
You have one sibling in college now? How is that being paid for?
If, for example, you live with mom but the steps live with dad. and your parents are divorced.
You claim that you live with mom and then can’t claim the steps as part of the household, as they are in a different household. You use your mom, and your, incomes for the fafsa. Your family size is 3 and there will be 2 in college next year.
If you live with your dad and the steps, that’s the info you put down. You use your dad, and your, incomes for the fafsa. Your family size is 5 (if there is a stepmom in the picture) and there will be 2 in college next year.
In both scenarios if there is a step mom or dad in the picture, whichever parent you are using on your FAFSA, you have to include the whole household income, including the step parent.
However, you need to relook at your math a bit. Using one example.
WSU
42,000 Net COA
-27,000 Available funds (including student federal loan and work study/job/savings/internship)
15,000 remaining
-1,0000 WSU OOS Grant
= 14,000 remaining.
You wrote: 5000 parent plus loan, 10500/yr in loans rough estimate.
In this scenario that is incorrect. Your loan is already counted in the 27k. You still need 14k more. Your parents will have to take a parent plus loan for 14k year one and likely all 4 years, bringing it to 60k in loans for them, 27k in loans for you, a total of 87k in loans for an undergrad degree. That is way way too much. Which parent agreed to do this? Remember if you don’t pay, it’s on them and those are huge payments.
I also really think your 27K estimate is inflated and you don’t have quite that much.
Regarding loans: That 87K becomes 121K byt the time you are done, if it’s paid off on time in 10 years… Get behind, make less than the minimum (1k per month) and it quickly balloons to something larger.
I realize that sounds “easy” with your anticipated income but it also does not allow you to save for owning a home, a car, and will impact your quality of life and living/housing choices. Any one thing sets you back and it truly could be life altering and not in a good way.
You need options like this:
University of Wyoming
$27,990 Net COA
-27,000 Available funds (including student federal loan and work study/job/savings/internship)
=990 in Parent Plus Loans
To add on to @eandesmom’s excellent post: you really need to reexamine your entire budget.
You may not qualify for Pell if you live with your mom. Do the Fafsa4caster to get an estimate of your Pell EFC. If it’s over $6000, you won’t get any Pell.
My son is a CS major. You can’t depend on getting an internship or plan to earn $6500/year from one. Even if you did, it wouldn’t be available to pay for your freshman year.
There are federal laws regarding Work Study. I wouldn’t count on getting it if you’re not Pell eligible. If you’re awarded Work Study, you have to get a job and earn the money. Jobs aren’t guaranteed and the money won’t be available to pay your fall bill. You’re paid as you earn it. Legally, you can only work 8 hours/week as a freshman. The going rate is $10/hour, so IF you’re able to get a job the first 2 weeks of college you’ll have (at most) 14 weeks of work in the fall. That’s only $1100/semester. If there are any partial weeks your actual earnings could be less.
I think your actual budget is closer to this:
Federal student loan: $5500
Mom: $4k-5k
Dad: $2-4k
TOTAL: $11k - $14k
Are you working? If you work summers you can probably earn ~$3k.
@filipe2019: “Lexington, and pretty much anywhere I’ve been in Kentucky just doesn’t have a culture I enjoy.”
If you go to a larger school, the relevant “culture” will be that of the university, and not so much what is going on outside of the university. Be concerned more about the campus culture, not that of the “outside world.” My point is, don’t exclude schools from Kentucky, so long as they are large enough to host a lot of different cultures on campus.
I’m saying this as a computer professional. For computers, it really doesn’t matter where you graduate, and there’s no rational reason to go out of state for the sake of prestige. DO NOT co-sign private loans to pay tuition. That kind of debt will crush you. Out of state universities are triple the cost. Once you graduate, all state barriers go out the window. You could get a job in KY, TN, OH, TX, or anywhere you want to go. You may even want to stay in KY. It has a strong job market and it’s more cost effective for employers to hire in-state.