<p>I've been reading a few answers about low in-state tuition in certain states (after establishing residency), financial aid at elite medical schools for people with a zero EFC (or whatever it's called for medical school, etc.</p>
<p>Is there any way to "compare apples to apples" on private and public schools total cost of attendance, given how long it takes to move in-state and current income/asset situation? Is there an online calculator or something that would help find these answers?</p>
<p>No online calculator. Just the med school websites that list the current tuition, fees and estimated room and board, health insurance, travel, relocation expenses and equipment and books.</p>
<p>Many will vary due to the location or even the need for a vehicle. A few provide dorms (Cornell) with no need for a car and others are in remote locations with the need for a vehicle to get to clinics.</p>
<p>Son discovered the costs were different from even the schools’ estimates, some over estimated and others under estimated. By what he considered a sizeable amount. School he is at now projected $1250 a month in rent for a 1 bedroom, he is leasing a 1350 sq ft. 2 brd/2bath townhouse for $700 and splits the rent with a roomate so his portion is $300 and utilities/cable/water/garbage/internet run him $65 a month. So a substantial difference. Other schools projected $650-695 per month and when son really looked the “real” rentals were over $1000 per month. Again can really change a budget.</p>
<p>Having to purchase a vehicle if you don’t own one. Relocating to the other side of the country. Furnishing an apartment vs. living in a dorm. And the tuition.</p>
<p>For son that played an important factor when he was deciding which med school to attend. He did have the ivy option of the unit loans, or all loans or a scholarship. He opted for the lowest tuition with a scholarship in an extremely low cost of living area. This way he was able to minimize the loans he would need. Others opt for other choices as they might have parental assistance with the costs.</p>
<p>Others in his class worked before attendance and have substantial savings built up to use. My son is responsible for his whole financial bill so his considerations focused heavily on the finances. I help out where I can, furniture finds, dinner at home, clothing, linens…love that Craig’s list and local goodwill is very nice.</p>
<p>For financial aid you still need to fill out the FAFSA and fill in parental info and some schools need the Need Access forms as well. This will let schools disburse institutional funds as well as the federal loans.</p>
<p>Some costs are so high you might need private loans in addition to the federal loans.</p>
<p>Son’s options ranged to $85,000 per year out of pocket to now about $5500 per year or less out of pocket.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>On-line. Just google any school.<br>
Luckily, in your state you will not ee extremes of $85k /year vs $5.5K / year. We do not have them in our state. While cost of state schools in first 2 years is substantially lower than privates, the last 2 years are the same. The most expansive I have seen in our state is our local state school for OOS students. It was $56k / year. I would say (based on one year) that additional costs (total cost in addition to tuition) is about $25K / year.<br>
Based on above, the difference of cost state school vs private is roughly equal to the price of the nice car. Again, from what I have read so far, it is very different from state to state.</p>