Daughter was offered an academic scholoarship at a small private college, & nothing at larger state college?

Question

Which one is going to be most economical financially. The private college is much smaller classes and a shorter commute. The other one is a longer drive and the classes are much larger.

Answer 1

The answer really depends on what happens after you complete the FAFSA form and receive your financial aid report from each college. The FAFSA form could bridge the gap on the college tuition itself. The form becomes available on January 1 for the upcoming fall semester or quarter. Check into see if the private college accepts the CSS form because it could bring in more financial aid. The FAFSA form brings in help in the form of the Pell Grant (if the EFC score is low enough), need based scholarships from the college's endowment fund, work study program, and student loans. Your daughter's financial aid award is adjusted to the school itself. This form needs to be completed each year until she graduates from college. I will include some free resources to locate money for college. Good luck!

Answer 2

Look at big picture for each school:

Example:
Private school A - living at home
25,000 per year tuition books X 4 years = $100,000
minus 5,000 scholarship for first year = total cost $95,000

Public school B - living at home
3,500 per year X 4 years = $14,000
extra transportation costs four years $2000
minus no scholarships = total cost $16,000

Public school C - dorm
6,000 per year X 4 years = $24,000
dorm room and board X 4 years = $10,000
minus student leader scholarship 1 year = $4,000
total cost = $29,000

Unless the private school can cough up about $75,000 of financial aid that IS NOT LOANS... don't even consider it. Your daughter can still learn from lectures if she's in a class with 20 the same as in a class with 50. My baby sister got sucked into that "classes are small and cozy" and was dazzled by a $1,000 scholarship. She messed around for 2 years a very expensive private school, only to drop out after spending about $50,000 of daddy's money just to get married and enroll in the local community colleges nursing program. (of which none of those private school courses counted towards anything except keep her from getting fin aid)
Good luck. Here is a good publication about federal fin aid and loan maximums.

Answer 3

there will be a HUGE difference in the price of the schools simply because it is private vs. state. i have worked in HR in corporate america for a while now and i have to tell you that we NEVER look at where a person went to college---it really doesn't matter that much. most state schools are just as good as private institutions. take advantage of the state school. also, the private school probably has some "fees" that they charge (you know--campus access, recreation--fees they just make up!) that the state school won't

Answer 4

It depends on the cost of tuition and the amount of the scholarship and how far the drive will actually be.
You also need to look at what's best all around, although the small private college may seem better, is it better for the major she wants to follow?
Many private colleges are better then large public ones, but that's not only the case. You need to look into all aspects of the school before you choose.

Answer 5

Unless its is an Ivy league college the degree will carry the same weight in the eyes of employers.

The Private college has the benefits of smaller classes; more one-on-one with the instructor. Where in a large college your teacher may not even have an opportunity to speak with you unless you go to his/her office hours.

With gas prices the way they are the shorter the commute the better.

Also she can get the general ED out of the way at the small college and transfer later if she so decides. Make sure the courses are transferable, and some colleges will only take transfer up to a certain point. Such as most won't take any college seniors as a transfer.

Answer 6

well! Does that scholarship covers every thing? Would it cover for all 4 years? Look at the long term. see if going to state college would be cost-effective in long term. Look at if the Private college is known for major.