<p>We're finding that a lot of college websites and search sites are incorrect when it comes to the cost of sending your kid to college. I know that there are many hidden costs and hidden savings, but the official "Financial Award Letter" is the closest thing that we have to a bill from a college.</p>
<p>What is the gross cost of attending each school, based on the most current information that comes from the financial award letters that you've received? Since every student is unique and every family financial situation is different, this would not include any scholarships, grants, awards, or loans. </p>
<p>@cheeseheadmike - I would caution everyone to make sure they are comparing apples to apples. To be fair, we started a list in another thread with only tuition and fees costs so people can compare schools equally. I would suggest if you want to make a list of “gross costs” for each school that you break it out line item by line item so people can really compare schools equally. Room and board will vary depending on options available at your school. Approximate costs for books, travel and other expenses will depend on your major, where you live, etc…we have found some schools overestimate these while some schools forget to mention them as expenses. For example, I believe you said OCU had listed $3500 for books and supplies. we haven’t spent half that on books there this year. but perhaps a nursing student has. it depends on your major and those are ballpark figures. Tuition and fees are set fees so they are much easier to compare. In the end, reality is by the time you add in all fees, room, board and other expenses, most of these schools cost between $40,000 and $60,000 per year before credits for scholarships and aid.</p>
<p>CMU “Proposed Tuition and Fees” postcard to remind applicants to complete the FAFSA and CSS
$63,822.00</p>
<p>I knew it was $60,000ish, but I railed on about how they could possibly justify charging that amount (though if son was accepted and we could have afforded it…)</p>
<p>IU FA letter says $44,234 for 2014-15 out-of-state DIRECT costs (tuition & fees, room & board, and books).
+ addt’l $3,000 indirect costs (personal and travel for out-of-state)</p>
<p>Based on my experience with two non-MT kids in college (not IU), I find the Books and Fees here to be fairly accurate. I generally “ballpark” Room and Board at $9 - 11,000 - at least for most schools in the midwest. Also factor in that MANY schools now require a laptop computer (sometimes you have to get the one they have pre-configured, and some also want an “iPad”, too). Some include this in fees and for some it’s additional.</p>
<p>University of Utah: Tuition + Fees (approx $25k), Room & Board (approx $10k) = $35,000 out-of-state. If you apply for residency, Tuition drops to approx $7k starting sophomore year. Very easy to get residency if you stay for the first summer.</p>
<p>Perhaps we should put these in a list and then if people want to add to it they can copy and paste and put the new listing in red. If you are adding a school, remember this list shows total costs as outlined in FA letters received this year. This does not account for any scholarships or aid you may be offered. Just actual costs the college has sent you including estimates for books, travel and other expenses. I’m not too technical but maybe someone else would be willing to set it up. Right now we have:</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon. $63,822
Indiana $47,234
Oklahoma City University. . $49,256
Pace University. $ 56,042</p>
<p>I would encourage everyone to look at costs of housing for all four years – sometimes there is a big jump in price between campus housing designated for first-year students only, and for campus housing designated for “upperclassmen”. For one of our MT sons, this was significant increase in cost for soph year.</p>
<p>One of my sons options last year (public university) charges a fee for every performing arts class. It wasn’t noted in any info we received, but we saw it when looked through the course listings. Just another consideration!</p>
<p>Many of the schools we have looked at still list only 2013-2014 costs on their web site. The FA letters of course are showing the 2014-2015 costs. I don’t know whether that is the case for OCU or some of the other listed, but since most schools increase a few percentage points each year that alone can cause some surprises. </p>
<p>RE: CMU. We received the cost of attendance (2013) and noticed the amount allocated for annual travel was $800. We live on the West Coast…figured this amount would cover our kiddle catching a train - hobo style - maybe twice. It certainly could not have considered actual holiday airline fees. Nope, not worth it.</p>
<p>@vvnstar I understand what you are saying about an apples to apples comparison. Some of the award letters list only direct costs (tuition, room & board), while others list direct and indirect costs. As a result, the numbers that we enter may be misleading when you are trying to compare schools, and they should be differentiated</p>
<p>I propose that as we make entries we add the notation (dc) if the award letter quotes direct costs only, and (tc) if the letter covers direct and indirect costs. Does this make sense? We may find that this equalizes the list to the extent that the overall cost of college is comparatively flat, except for a few outliers like CMU or NYU.</p>
<h2>I’ll update the ones below that we’ve personally received letters from, and we’ll see how it goes. Feel free to jump in with another idea that makes sense. No worries here. (Other than figuring out how to sell enough plasma to pay for college without passing out.)</h2>
<p>As you receive a Financial Aid Award Letter please cut and paste this section to your reply box and add your school in alphabetical order. </p>
<p>(dc) = direct costs (tuition, room & board only)
(tc) = total costs (direct costs plus indirect costs as listed in the award letter)</p>
<p>As you receive a 2014-15 Financial Aid Award Letter please cut and paste this section to your reply box and add your school in alphabetical order.</p>
<p>(dc) = direct costs (tuition, room & board only)
(tc) = total costs (direct costs plus indirect costs as listed in the award letter)</p>
<p>Heading to Fredonia for accepted student day at Fredonia ( $19,600, in State) & Monday to Rider ( $50,575) Both have solid programs. Hoping Fredonia gives him the “this is it” feeling but I already know what he has set his sights on. I can feel my retirement slipping away.</p>
<p>@MTorBust same here. My son cancelled his last audition which was suppose to be tomorrow there. He knew he wasnt going to go there and we know there are still people waiting to audition but they were full so we are hoping it opens up a slot for someone else. Good luck with that. </p>
<p>I think my son knows he isn’t going there but Im going on a wing and a prayer that he sees the light. He got into a program near where we live and he has no interest. He doesn’t want to go school in his own backyard. His good friend is auditioning tomorrow, we are going for the tour and Q&A sessions. We’ll see. Looks like your S knows what he wants too. Im just the Mom in denial, giving it one last shot at an affordable option.</p>
<p>Trust me @MTorBust I was in denial for a bit. Fredonia is 45 minutes from our house. He knows alot of people in the MT program there and there are mixed feelings about what you get out of it. For him personally he wants a strong acting college and wants to be further away than 45 minutes. I of course was fine with this I could drive down anytime I want LOL I’m just kidding on that. We have been getting mailings from that school forever and they really would like him to come there. He would have gotten scholarship money so basically would come out debt free. I understand how he feels. He wants the best training possible in this highly competitive field. Good luck.</p>
<p>This is a great thread. I too misinterpreted the estimator or it just ended up being wrong. I will post Otterbein, PPU and WSU when I get home I don’t have the FA letters handy.</p>
<p>I’m updating Carnegie Mellon – just got the FAA Letter this morning.</p>
<p>As you receive a 2014-15 Financial Aid Award Letter please cut and paste this section to your reply box and add your school in alphabetical order.</p>
<p>(dc) = direct costs (tuition, room & board only)
(tc) = total costs (direct costs plus indirect costs as listed in the award letter)</p>