Hello all, I am a current senior in high school and am hoping to make my college decision soon. My top 5 schools (not in order) are Seton Hall University, St. John’s University (NY), Adelphi U., Manhattan College, and Fordham University.
I got my Seton, Adelphi, and St. John’s total COA down to around $23k-$27k. Fordham seems like it’s the best academically, but my COA is around $60k.
I suppose I just need help determining the value of my schools. Can I get an equivalent education for less money at a college like SHU, SJU, or Adelphi? Or is Fordham by far the best?
Thank you so much!!
I think rather than trying to figure where you will get the best value education, think about what an additional 33000-37000 in debt does to your life (unless it’s all paid for, and you aren’t going to grad school). That’s a huge difference. What are you planning to study/do after graduation? That can help determine answers, too. For some areas or grad school vs not, reputation of undergrad is more or less important.
Thank you TS0104, I am planning to go to graduate school once I get my bachelor’s. Thank you for this insight, I hadn’t thought of it yet.
Without not knowing what you want to major in, I prefer St. John’s and Manhattan College if Fordham is too expensive.
HONOURSTUDENT, thanks for your opinion! I am going into psychology, so that’s also a factor because SJU offers a BA and Manhattan offers a BS.
“I am planning to go to graduate school once I get my bachelor’s.”
For what its worth (probably not much), I know someone who did a bachelor’s at Seton Hall and then went to Columbia for graduate school. Columbia had (and still has) a great program in what she was studying.
Going to a very slightly less famous school for undergrad will not stop you from going to a great school for graduate school. The debt you take on however could haunt you for a while.
If the difference in price is $35,000 per year, I doubt that this extra cost is worth it.
DadTwoGirls, thank you so much!
“Can I get an equivalent education for less money at a college like SHU, SJU, or Adelphi? Or is Fordham by far the best” I would say Fordham is the best in this list. The education it provides correlates with its standing. 35K extra, is a lot, if you have some extenuating circumstances, may be you could appeal the package?
You may have legit reasons to take on debt after college: mortgage, car, grad school come to mind. The less debt you accrue now, the more options you will have later.
Options are good.