<p>17K??? Be thankful. Our S is off to his dream school this fall to the tune of 50k, when it is all said and done! We one of those families that pays "full frieght". The best part - our state flagship would have probably cost us less than we pay for his current high school (because of merit $$) and he was in the running for a full ride at a very well-respected LAC.</p>
<p>Enjoy the 17k!!</p>
<p>$17K is a low price for a private LAC. I think that Geneseo here in NY which is a SUNY has a higher COA this year. The only ones I can think of that run that range are some of the Christian schools like Grove City, maybe York college.</p>
<p>We currently have both children in a top 50 southern LAC-do not qualify for FA. With small amount of merit aid per child our cost for current year is 36K for each child-not including the usual dorm set-up, travel etc. </p>
<p>Tuition, room and board increases will be announced next week, but my understanding is the range is 3000-3500K per student. So, figures for LAC education at 17Kper year sound terrific to DH and I. Both of our kids really love the small class size and the incredible relationships/availability/quality of faculty at their school. However with the economy and markets being what they are, the price tag for a LAC at this price is hard to swallow.</p>
<p>I am in the same situation, Georgiatwins. My next child for college really would do best, I think, in the small class sizes and atmosphere of an LAC or other smaller private school that is primarily residential and not commuter or with many off campus kids. That translates into expensive and with few merit awards for a good student, but not an incredible one. Geneseo is a SUNY that is supposed to meet those criteria at a low price. ST Mary's in MD also has a lower than average sticker price as does Grove City and York. Maybe UNC Asheville is also reasonably priced. Don't know any others. Wonder which school OP has found at $17K.</p>
<p>Ellenfix, I'm also in Georgia, with HOPE you would still have to pay room and board which would run you around $7,000-$10,000 a year. I think you've got a great deal. (Full disclosure, my D would not attend any of the in-state publics and I think she had good reasons.)</p>