<p>Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. These were the figures provided by the university. Maybe it’s the “supplies”, you know, expensive binders and such. 
I will say, however, that we currently have two other kids in college and they pay about $1200/semester for books. Rip off. </p>
<p>I would guess that the book fee is the high end and not for a performance major. While my D is not at OCU but is a freshman in a BFA program and I don’t think we have even spent $500 on books/supplies this year. The gen ed books she has needed have been rentals and/or used from different websites</p>
<p>However the travel has been higher which will ultimately depend on proximity to the school</p>
<p>I think some of those costs, including books, are ballpark and contingency figures. We have not spent $3500 on books this year. And obviously travel expenses will depend on where you are traveling from. And I’m not even sure what the “other” educational costs are. But I do like that they include these items in the list of projected expenses you will need to cover. Some schools just talk about tuition, room and board and then all those other expenses are “extras” you find out about later. You will have to pay for books, travel and “other” expenses at any school you attend. So when comparing college costs, just make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. And make sure you account for all possible expenses.<br>
OCU gives academic merit $. You can look on their website and find your GPA and test scores and see how much you will qualify for in academic scholarship. Additionally you may be offered a talent scholarship that can be stacked on top of the academic acholarship. some schools only allow you to take the greater of the two. OCU allows you to receive both. Additionally, there are a number of other scholarship programs you can apply for as well. Some of those are also outlined on the website. But you may want to talk to someone in financial aid to see what additional funds you might be able to apply for. I believe there may be some specifically for transfers. We found them to be fairly competitive with other schools as far as scholarship offers. But it was a combination of several scholarships, not one big one, that helped bring the overall cost down.</p>
<p>I see that you included the other expenses such as book, transportation, etc. I never include those when comparing schools, just the Tuition, Fees, and Room & Board. There are always book expenses (I agree with others that it is very unlikely a MT major will spend anywhere near $3500, my daughter spent less than $500 for the whole year at her current program) and transportation varies depending on your location and family choices such as how often your child will be going home to visit. The thing that surprises me is the difference in tuition. Their website shows tuition at approximately $27k. If I were to assume approx $1k in fees it is $28k. Did tuition really go up 20%?? Am I just wrong on the fees? </p>
<p>Hi, mtmomagain. I have never looked at OCU’s online tuition fees. The fees in my original post are from OCU after D’s acceptance that came USPS.</p>
<p>@mtmomagain - I believe OCU tuition this year was $29,500 approx. So there has been an increase but not as large as you thought. An important thing to note: Starting with the class entering the 2013-2014 school year, OCU gives you a fixed tuition for 8 semesters. That means the price you pay freshman year should be the price you pay senior year. That can help budget for the next 4 years and you not have to worry about tuition increases. And again, there are academic, talent and other scholarships available to help with the cost of college.</p>
<p>I just reviewed the financial award letter from OCU and it says this exactly: between the academic award, directed student loan, and the EFC & PLUS loan the total costs for academic year 2014/2015 are $49,256.00. </p>
<p>:-< These prices are killing me. I am getting worried to see some of the FA packages…I thought the audition process was a killer.</p>
<p>When you are figuring in supplies and books for a musical theatre major, consider the following expenses: clothing for recitals and performances, even costumes at times, dance shoes of different shapes and colors, sheet music, copies, binders and plastic sheets, cost of head shots (probably freshman and senior year), cost of additional coaching lessons and in many schools–the cost of a weekly accompanist for voice lessons (that was a surprise expense of $25/week!)</p>
<p>I think the main thing regarding costs - for any schools you are considering - is to make sure you are comparing apples to apples for each school on your list, make sure you account for all possible expenses like books and travel and make sure you pursue all possible scholarship options to bring costs down. It is a very individual thing and what one student is awarded or qualifies for will not be equal to the next. It will depend on individual circumstances. So talk to financial aid officers at any schools you are considering and make sure you get the best possible offer. Wishing everyone much success in finding great programs that are good fits for your families in all ways!</p>
<p>I know nothing about Oklahoma but I will say that neither of my MT kids is spending their estimated living allowance or books and supplies money. They do purchase plays, music, dance clothes, audition dresses and a couple of actual books here and there. But, they are both well under their estimates. They also quit the meal plan things as soon as possible and are learning about grocery shopping. Slowly. </p>
<p>Cheeseheadmike, we too were really shocked when D’s FA package came in from OCU and the the overall cost was 49K… The internet estimates were somewhere in the mid to upper 30’s…Definitely a deal breaker for our family! Lesson learned lol.</p>
<p>Does anyone know if it’s true tisch phone calls or emails are going out tomorrow after 3 pm?</p>
<p>@futbrodmom I know what you mean. There cannot possibly be $200,000 worth of value in attending OCU. Sorry if I start an argument that belongs on another thread, but c’mon.</p>
<p>NYU emails are going out starting early tomorrow morning according to the website. They said they will be going out all day tomorrow so by the end of the day everyone will know.</p>
<p>when comparing college costs, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Here is an idea of how tuition and fees compare for some of the programs frequently mentioned here. Please note these are tuition and fees only for the upcoming school year. Info was taken from each school’s website. Make sure you have the most up to date figures. All schools will have additional charges for room, board, books, miscellaneous expenses. You will also want to budget for travel. When doing your final analysis of costs don’t forget to include all those expenses minus any scholarships and aid you receive.</p>
<p>Ohio Northern 27,500 tuition only. Fees additional
Otterbein. 31,424. Tuition only. Fees additional.
Ball State. 33,070
OCU. 33,472
Point Park. 34,010
Rider. 34.560
UArts. 38,410 tuition only. Fees additional
Illinois Wesleyan. 40,844
Syracuse. 41,888
Wagner. 43,875</p>
<p>Again, make sure you compare apples to apples. Remember to account for all costs. Fact is college is darn expensive wherever you decide to go. Only you can determine what best fits your family in terms of program and cost.</p>
<p>A few more:</p>
<p>Webster. 28.400 tuition only. Fees additional
Baldwin Wallace. 31,216. Tuition only. Fees additional
Ithaca. 38,400</p>
<p>We are in the process of choosing between Point Park and Ohio Northern. The amounts listed below are what we’ve received from both schools for 2014-15 Tuition/Room/Board:</p>
<p>Point Park: $46,054
Ohio Northern: $38,960</p>
<p>@DoReMiMom- the figures I stated are for tuition and fees only. Again, just trying to make sure people compare schools equally. They all have such different ways of listing their costs it makes it difficult for us to truly compare. Ohio Northern and Point Park are great options! Best wishes as you make your decision!</p>
<p>@vvnstar Exactly. We had a tough time even deciphering how to compare apples to apples because each school had so many different components of fees, categories, and costs. We had anticipated ONU to be much more expensive than Point Park, but after putting them side by side, we were really surprised. Best wishes to you too! :)</p>