<p>Total tuition, room, board and fees for one year at a small, private liberal arts college for my son, a business/economic major, including merit aid, will be $17,400. Is this considered a rare bargain or just a middle-of-the-road cost? What will your small LAC cost and why do you think it's worth it? Is it ridiculous to even consider shelling all that money out for four years, when he can attend a huge public state university for about $10,000/year total (basically room/board; Georgia statewide HOPE scholarship= free tuition)? </p>
<p>Also: Has anyone tried negotiating a locked-in tuition price for all four years? Thanks for any input on this.</p>
<p>I would do cartwheels if I could pay only $17K to send my son to his good liberal arts college for a year. Even with a good merit aid award, it's close to 30. For that matter, total in-state cost at our very good flagship public exceeds 17.</p>
<p>Wow--I'd be tickled pink if my D's choices in colleges could be had at $17,400 a YEAR! The kind of college she'll end up at will probably have no merit aid and we're full pay customers.</p>
<p>From your description, the $17,500/year is a good deal. Then again, many people think we're nuts to pay full retail at a school that will probably clear $50k/year for my son's junior year next year. GTG - checking on the stock market and then probably buying lottery tickets...</p>
<p>I do believe that is less expensive ( by quite a bit) as my daughters instate university costs.
Her sisters costs ( not counting aid) was around $50,000 at a LAC</p>
<p>"Also: Has anyone tried negotiating a locked-in tuition price for all four years? Thanks for any input on this."</p>
<p>George Washington University already does this for everyone. They have fallen from the most expensive university in the country to about 3rd. room and board, however, can still go up every year.</p>
<p>D applied to 3 small LACs. With (score/grade based) merit aid our total cost will be between $13,000 and $15,500/year depending on the school she chooses. (These schools are in the South and Midwest--without aid they would be 25-32K/year). I think 17K is pretty good deal for a private school. I've found that there is a lot of merit aid for top students (and "above average" students) at less selective private schools. </p>
<p>The 13-15K we'll pay for D is about the same my nephew pays for an in-state public (even with his small academic scholarship--and I think his scores were a bit better than hers).</p>
<p>We are so blessed and grateful that we are not paying the full tuition for our DD. The school is so great and supportive. Last quarter we almost missed the payment on due day because we didn't have enough fund in the checking account. Couple weeks later, school cut a $700 check to DD.</p>
<p>ellenfix, we've got one of those offers too. That is about the same price we'd be paying thanks to a very generous merit and grant package. DD is weighing her options and waiting for a couple of more decisions. OOS school does offer to make adjustments to offer to keep up with rising costs. A couple of other schools that she is thinking about will guarantee a 4 year grad rate or they will pick up additional tuition expenses. State school for us will run roughly the same as this enticing offer, but it is unlikely that she can get through in 4 years time. </p>
<p>I'll also weigh in on travel expenses...away to OOS school= lower car insurance to pay, no gas expenses, no parking fees. In-state school will = higher car insurance, gas consumption and parking fees (not to mention wear and tear on the car). By my accounts this may work out to be a wash when it comes to airfare to and from OOS school.</p>
<p>Thanks, parents for the lively and informative input. I feel now that we more fully appreciate the $17k yearly total as a good value -- provided, of course, that the school fulfills its academic promises and my son is achieving his full educational potential.</p>
<p>I believe that RIT has a program that will lock in tuition for four years IF you prepay the tuition for all four years. </p>
<p>My daughter is at University of Cincinnati. She is paying, net of scholarships, around $7,000 per year,which is the in-state tuition rate! He room and board is around $7,400 per year.</p>
<p>Ellenfix1 - It might be worth it to pay more for a small, private, liberal arts experience over a huge state university, but you've got Georgia College & State University is state for the same $10,000 or less after HOPE. Their mission is specifically to provide the kind of experience you're seeking at a public, in-state price.</p>
<p>Since our state flagship (UIUC) charges not all that much less than that for tuition and fees (NOT counting room & board) for sciences, business and engineering, I think that's a great bargain. Friend's D just got a $13,000 merit scholarship for her small LAC and even with that it's going to be $29K/year (assuming no increases). I'd be happy to pay what you're paying.</p>