I am struggling to make a choice on my college education. I’m down to IU and Bama, and I want to study business. I am from Illinois so I’m OOS.
Indiana:
Kelley DA
13k annually in scholarships
Hutton Honors admittance
Will be around 23k in tuition to attend
Alabama:
Honors College admittance (need 30 act for admission, same as Kelley)
Will be around 9.5k in tuition per year
Is Kelley worth the 13.5k more in tuition per year considering the honors college program at Alabama? I am worried about taking on the extra 54k in costs for tuition at Indiana.
I can see myself at both colleges respectively, so there isn’t a gut feeling that I’m having. I love the opportunities that Kelley has to offer but are they really worth the extra money when I am confident I will work hard and be involved at both schools? Please comment back your thoughts, I’m really stuck on this decision!
Something that comforts me with IU Kelley is that the Career Services Center is very good about putting you in a position to obtain internships and job interviews. How is Alabama’s Culverhouse Career Center?
How are you going to pay the extra 54k? Taking out loans? Are your parents paying for it? If so, how reasonable is it for them to afford and what do they think?
If the money is a significant burden (which it sounds like it is based on your first post), I would probably go to Alabama. I think rankings are somewhat overrated, but I also don’t know a ton about Alabama’s program. Another thing to consider is job placement after you graduate. If you are looking return to Illinois and work in Chicago, Kelley is going to be a lot better for that.
Indiana. No brainer. Especially for business. The salary difference will pay for the college difference in a few years. Is a long term decision. Our firm recruits from Indiana and would not recruit bama.
If your family can comfortably afford Indiana (no big loans, no hardship) then it is fine to go there since you prefer it. The idea is to find an affordable college, not necessarily the cheapest college. However, if the additional costs to go to Kelley would all be in loans, your family taking a second mortgage on the home etc. then I’d opt for Alabama.
My daughter had a full ride to Bama and is in Kelley. The southern culture/ trucks with confederate flags etc was something that made her very uncomfortable. Whereas, IU felt like home immediately. Kelley offers strong support, opportunities and an incredible placement rate. However, if the financial burden is something that can’t be overcome, I would be happy to get an education wherever you can afford to go. If the money is available, I would consider Kelley worth it.