I know there have been some similar threads pertaining to this, but I think my question is a tad different. I, like most EA admits, have received my financial aid package. We would be paying full price for me to attend ND. My parents are paying for my undergraduate education, so I will have minimal debt to shoulder once I graduate (not including graduate school, which I will likely be paying for). I will be studying biology but do NOT plan on attending med school.
So many people tout the idea of the value of a ND education - from the quality of academics, to how it shapes you as a person, and the connections you form while there that let you get a foot in the door of the job market. Are these things (in particular the last aspect) truly worth paying 280k for? My parents have said I can attend if I want to, and Notre Dame is absolutely my top choice and I have been imagining myself there for over a year. However, I have a good second choice. My struggle here is, though my parents are paying, I don’t want to waste their money while I could obtain similar rigor of academics and alumni connections elsewhere.
At ND, I have mostly heard stories of alumni connections for engineering and Mendoza being very good. Does the same apply to the sciences (especially if I don’t plan on going to med school?) Any thoughts are much appreciated.
What is your second choice?
Would the second choice be a huge financial difference freeing up money for grad school?
If I didn’t go to ND I would probably go to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It would be a difference of about 80k.
The thing is, I am not sure if it would actually “free up” money – for various reasons. @My5Kiddos
@collegegirl6789 I completely understand your dilemma, and it is most definitely a dilemma. Our son was admitted REA to the University of Notre Dame after he basically fell in love with the place during our summer college tour after his junior year. However, our son also heard back from University of California-Berkeley in early February that he is a candidate for their Regent’s Scholarship. Berkeley is the flaghip school in the UC system, so somewhat akin to you and UNC-CH, although I am not sure if you are in-state for Carolina. For our son, the price differential will be at least $150K over 4 years, considering Berkeley in-state is $35K (even if he doesn’t get Regents) and ND is almost $72K next year. We are full-pay at ND too.
I am not putting any pressure on my son, because we can probably find a way to afford it if ND ends up being the choice. I guess what concerns me is it really WORTH it though – much like your original post. Berkeley’s “academic reputation” is at least on par with ND’s, and in fact, if you put any stock in US News rankings, the academic types actually rank Berkeley higher on reputation (4.7 for Berk vs. 4.0 for ND) due to the halo effect from Berkeley graduate programs. That said, Berkeley is not going to hold anyone’s hand, but for $150K cost difference over 4 years, I’m not sure the extra attention and personalized education he’ll get at ND is worth it.
I am eager to see what other ND parents have to say on this one. Just about any kid with the profile to get into ND would qualify for a nice academic /merit award from their in-state flagship, so this is not an easy decision, even for families that can technically “afford it.”
So the choice between UNC out-of-state (roughly $200k) and ND full price ($280k)?
As college costs go, $80k isn’t all that big of a delta. The more typical dilemma folks talk about (like 365 above) is full pay at a fancy private ($280k) vs. in-state public flagship or a lower ranked private with merit. So more like a $150k delta.
If your parents are willing to spend the $80k and you wouldn’t use the $80k for grad school or a house down payment, why wouldn’t you just pick the school you like the most? What do they say?
Last point. A lot of people would see the $200k as an awful lot of money to spend for a big public college (even an awesome public Ivy like UNC). Note 365’s comment above about how UCB is not going to hold your hand.
Many parents are willing to pay somewhat more (but maybe not double or triple) to get the smaller classes and higher per student resources of a private school. ND in particular has a pretty well resourced student experience.
Good luck!
@parent365 I am not in-state for Carolina, so it’s still 50k per year. We too can afford ND. I have no doubt that ND is a better fit for me and that I would get a lot out of it. I also think it will set me up better for my future. It’s just a question of whether that difference is worth 80k.
I never thought I would be having this dilemma! I thought if I got into ND I would definitely be going there, and I didn’t anticipate getting into Carolina.
One consideration would be if you can realistically finish in 4 years at UNC. At many state schools, it is more like 5 years, at which the cost of tuition and living is a wash with 4 years at ND. Nearly all students finish in 4 years at ND.
All four of my children have attended ND, and we got no financial aid, but the dividends have been well worth it. Each one has pursued a different path, but the opportunities at ND have been vast. One had his pick of top science graduate programs, one got into a prestigious masters program, and one got a dream job in Chicago. They have had research opportunities and grants, and opportunities to study abroad.
Since you are a science major, one consideration for you should be opportunities to do research during the school year. Since ND is primarily an undergraduate school, you will have lots of choices about lab work you would like to do. At big state schools, it can be hard to get positions in a lab, since you have to compete with the graduate students for these positions. While my oldest was at ND, he worked in a chemistry lab, but tells me at his state graduate program, that they only have a few undergraduates working because so many others are already in the lab.
Bottom line, I think ND is worth every penny!
I think this is a personal question that really will have to be sorted out with your family. UNC and ND are both great schools. I know a young lady who is thriving at UNC, and my D is thriving at ND. Would your mother or father have to postpone retirement for ND? Are there kids behind you that should be considered? (Those are rhetorical questions that you don’t need to answer here.)
Some things you might not have considered: if you went to UNC, would you join a sorority? I think there are extra costs associated with that. Travel expenses more or less for one school than the other? Also, ND has a program to fund kids who are offered unfunded summer research programs or internships. UNC may have that also, I don’t know. But those are some things to think about as well.
There is an intrinsic, intangible value to Notre Dame that can neither be quantified nor understood by anyone who hasn’t gone there. If it feels like a fit to you, and your family can afford the difference in tuition, enjoy life under the dome and thank me in four years. 
@Ibe1323 The problem for me is that the total 4-year investment in Notre Dame at full pay will end up being a very easily quantifiable $300K ($72K; $74K; $76K; $78K). While I appreciate that there is that “intrinsic, intangible value” to ND that can neither be quantified or understood, that’s a fuzzy justification.
I’ve seen the old Lou Holtz quote: “For those that know ND, no explanation is necessary; for those who do not, no explanation is sufficient.” It’s a great quote, as most Holtz quotes tend to be, but again, how does one explain the WORTH of a Notre Dame education to a student (and family) that has not lived it. It’s a difficult question that @collegegirl6789 posed in her initial post…
Graduating from UNC in four years isn’t much of a concern. UNC-CH graduates 84% of students in four years. That is outstanding for a public university. And you would expect the grad rate for UNC’s OOS students to be even higher. Since grad rates go up as students get academically stronger and better resourced/supported.
I wouldn’t be surprised if UNC’s OOS grad rate rivals ND’s sky high 92% 4 year grad rate.
If it were UNC IS ($80k) vs. ND full pay ($280k), everyone would tell you to pick UNC unless your folks run a hedge fund. ND isn’t $200k better.
At $200k vs. $280k, you should pick the school you like unless your parents really can’t handle the $80k delta. $80k is a lot of money for sure, but not that much of a difference if your folks are already signed up to spend $200k.
What about grad school? Is it likely you will got to grad school? If so and you save the $80k and got to NC, will your parents allow you to use the $80k (and possible growth over the next 4 years) for grad school? If your parents won’t otherwise help with grad school, $80k may well be significant to you as a recent grad school grad (even if its not necessarily significant to your parents).
A student going to grad school in the sciences should be funded. If not, it means they ought to look for another career path.
“A student going to grad school in the sciences should be funded. If not, it means they ought to look for another career path.”
Agree. And the OP’s plan stated above is biology grad school but definitely not med school.
So saving the $80k to pay for biology grad school doesn’t seem like a strong consideration here.
@parents365 My dh is an ND grad in engineering. He always talks about how Berkley is so well known in engineering. He did undergrad at ND and regrets not taking the Stanford or Berkley route for grad school. On the other hand he chose ND over Princeton as an undergrad. I think Berkley vs ND totally depends on the major and the fit. Congrats to your son on awesome options!
OP~ for the difference of $80K, it would be hard for me to choose UNC over ND. However, I am also a ND Alum and so are many of my family members so we love ND. I have good friends that are UNC grads and love their school just as much. Congrats to you for all your accomplishments!
And no college student has ever changed their major or career path. Very easy to play with other people’s money.
“And no college student has ever changed their major or career path.”
Sure. But if the goal is to conserve cash for future med school (which OP says is not the plan) then spending even $200k for UNC OOS doesn’t make much sense. Many much cheaper options available.
You shouldn’t light $80k on fire for no reason. But if the folks have it, why exactly are you not spending that $80k to go to the preferred and better fit school?
That’s the thing about changing your mind; you don’t know now what exactly you will change it to.
Just seems odd to me to say that clearly not worth a $280k difference but is absolutely worth a $80k difference. Knowing very little about the student’s goals, expectations, etc. or the family resources.
And some here are saying it may not be/isn’t worth a $150k difference but someone else is saying its definitely worth $280*4 kids.
All that to me says “it depends” but to others here, their view is definitely correct.
“Knowing very little about the student’s goals, expectations, etc. or the family resources.”
Sail – the OP has told us the parents have the cash and are willing to pay for ND. And that the plan is to study biology but not go to med school. And that ND is the dream school and a great fit. And that the difference over four years is $80k vs. second choice UNC.
Based on that, your advice is what?
Thank you everyone for your input, it’s been helpful. And northwesty thank you also for your point about the cost differences. My hesitation with spending the extra 80k of my parent’s money to go to ND is whether that 80k is actually necessary. And just how much money Notre Dame is worth.
@MYOS1634 I’m a bit confused by your earlier post when you said “A student going to grad school in the sciences should be funded. If not, it means they ought to look for another career path.” Can you clarify?