Need help deciding between two schools

My daughter has narrowed down her school choices to two: Oxford College of Emory and University of Alabama-Huntsville.

She has the full tuition scholarship from UAH, which means we would only pay room and board, about 10,500. She would not need to take any loans for UAH. She’s also been accepted into the honor’s program. She likes the school well enough and the cost would be great.

Oxford College is really a great fit for her and we have family close by. With aid it comes out to be about 17,000 to attend. That aid does include a student loan for her of 5,500. We can pay the balance with savings and current income, but it is a lot more money. If the cost was lower, she would pick Oxford for sure. She is hesitant to take the student loan. She’s pretty frugal, like her parents :-).

My question is this: is Oxford/Emory worth the higher price? She plans to major in biology or psychology and minor in Spanish. She wants to become a psychiatric or dermatology physician’s assistant, so will be going on to PA school.

Any advice is much appreciated!

Can anyone offer an opinion on whether the extra cost for Oxford/Emory is worth it?

Thanks!

So the difference in cost is $6500 a year?

Yes, the cost difference for us would be $6500 a year, but my daughter would have to take out student loans. The real cost total would be closer to 12,000 more. She would borrow the $5,500 in student loans and we would pay an extra $6500. With UAH she would not need any loans.

I would repost this in the UA section-you’ll get a LOT more answers.

Thanks!

Would the loans be subsidized or unsubsidized?

The loans would be a mixture of subsidized and unsubsidized.