UCLA vs U of Arizona?

College Search & Selection
1

So I’ve been admitted to UCLA, NYU Stern, Cornell, and my state’s University of Arizona.

After touring the school, I’m pretty dead set on staying in the west and going to UCLA if I go out of state. However, I’d have to pay the full ~$58,000 per year out of state cost to go there. I am very fortunate to have wealthy and generous parents who can pay this with relative ease. We’re not wealthy to the extent where we can just shrug off a ~$220,000 out of pocket expense, however. The major I was admitted to is Pre-Business Economics, and the plan as of now is to try landing an investment banking position straight out of undergrad then go back and shoot for an MBA, perhaps on my firm’s dime. To go to U of A would total about $50,000 for an undergraduate degree. However, I’d be forfeiting any chances of going into banking straight out of undergrad, and I’d be forced to either get my MBA at a more prestigious institution first, or change career plans, which I’d be open to! (and I’d much rather spend the next 4 years of my life in the rich southern California suburbs than Tucson haha)

So, my question is: is the ~$170,000 extra worth the opportunities, experience, and possibility that I’d have my MBA paid for by a firm, or would that money be better vested somewhere else? Either way I go, I’ll have no debt when I graduate.

Thank you!

2

That’s a tough one. The thing is I’m pretty sure 90% of the people on here will tell you to go the cheaper route, but if you can really graduate with no debt from either I’d go with UCLA.

3

^^^ I agree. If the amount of debt afterwards will be the same or relatively nothing, go with the better school (and I would hope most people agree that is UCLA).

However, I do have to tell you that the price of living in California is much higher than in Arizona, so what’s expensive to you in Arizona may be cheap to someone in California. Even buying a cup of coffee is more expensive there. Keep that in mind, because the money your parents have in Arizona may not go as far in California.

4

Wouldn’t Stern or Cornell be better for Ibanking?

5

IB don’t really recruit at U of A, from that perspective and organic ties into your chosen industry UCLA is much better. For instance, a former President of Blackstone a global PE firm was a UCLA graduate.

6

Top MBA programs expect students to have a few years real-world experience before entering.

7

UCLA all the way!