Interesting, thank you for the link.
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Also, if you are OOS (I assume so if kid got 20k) apparently justice studies is a very easy double major to add (you can only double major in it, in fact) and then you get the in-state agreement for most other NE states I am not sure if merit stacks or not though, or if it would be torture for your kid to do it - but had a friend whose kid did it on top of another major (something business I think).
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unfortunately, we are in NY.
drat! Well best wishes, and hopefully this is first of MANY affordable options:)
My GS in NY is attending UMass Amherst with merit which brings the cost under $40,000.
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Eastern Connecticut, the state’s public liberal arts college offers a $10,000 discount to students from certain statez. Southern and Western Connecticut both also offer out of state discounts. Rhode Island College in Providence offers a 40% discount to students from certain states. NY students would be included in all of the above although the Western Conn discount is specific to 7 NY counties. All of these colleges would be under $40,000 with the discounts that are offered.
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We did apply, UNH merit giving us hope.
Have you applied to any that will assuredly hit ? Is UNH at $57k this year so $37k with merit - just tuition, fees, room and board - is that inexpensive enough. You noted $40k but are you hoping for less ??
Are you willing to go to a directional type ?
There will be cheaper if needed but unlikely to be UMASS.
We have NY school that she got in already. She wants to go out of state which we set a budget that we are comfortable with (no debt). She doesn’t want to apply for anymore schools. Now the waiting game.
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New Hampshire?
Who else is left. Umass won’t be less. Did you apply URI ?
It’s ok, sometimes less choice is better. It’s hard to pick the winner amongst many.
I know you said she’s done - but you might find this thread helpful, specifically post 25. Some of these may be very easy apps and they are showing $$ significantly under $40K.
They are from NJ so not getting the New England discount.
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Time to make a decision
UMASS Honors college around $42000
Binghampton around $30,000.
we can afford both comfortably, question is it worth the $12,000 more.
- only thing I see is food she is a great cook so she will prefer Umass.
Anyone has a personal experience? stick with Bing or spend the extra.
Has she eaten at both?
Have you looked at what UMASS Honors provides - in other words, Honors programs are different. Does she want the extras that UMASS offers? Smaller classes but may be required classes she doesn’t like - for example, my son didn’t apply to an Honors program with extra humanities required. You get an Honors dorm I believe - is it nice? Honors is more for the experience…in most cases it’s not going to help you outcome wise as there’s no place on job apps to list it. But it can totally enhance (or deflate) your experience - so you need to know what you’re getting into.
Beyond food, most would consider Amherst a more college friendly area.
You say you can afford both. Do you want to afford Amherst vs. saving $50K.
If you’re good with both, it’s totally a personal opinion then. If you’re in range, go back and visit both. Eat in the dining halls, tour the Honors complex (maybe even sit in a class). Walk the surrounding area. You might even ask to get set up with a student ambassador to speak with (can be done online too).
It’s funny - when you started this, you asked about merit - and I noted merit is irrelevant but cost is what matters (some schools are cheaper full pay than others with merit. And you noted a $40K budget - so it would seem UMASS is stretching for you but Bing isn’t?
Initially you noted you are NY residents but she wanted to go OOS. I’m not sure UMASS is what I’d consider out of state - yes, a few hours over a border but still near home. But if that holds true, then that’s your option.
What happened to UNH - you got $20K there - so that would be cheaper. You eliminated?
What is her major?
I think both will be solid choices - and it’s really personal fit/preference - but Honors will be different, Niche doesn’t rate Bing’s food (from student surveys) as good (a C+) but everyone has a salad bar 
and I’m sure they’ll find some good food there.
So I’d look at - does Honors fit me, the surrounds, food as you noted it’s important, etc.
I think UMASS likely wins in that sense - but then is the $50K 4 year difference meaningful to you and your way of life - you have to balance that. Plus, is her major going to need grad school and can it help there.
Only you can choose.
Best of luck and congrats to her. It’s the problem with getting into more than one school…choice.
Did she get into any of the Honors programs at Bing?
Does she have a preference?
Bing is solid academically but it would mean dealing with more “red tape&processing numbers”, a more impersonal setting, than UMass with Honors. It definitely makes a difference in terms of being able to talk with professors (ie., mentorship, opportunities), interactive classes, a personal adviser … in addition to better dorms and better food. Finally, she also gains access to the 5-college consortium - she could be taking classes at Amherst or Smith!
So as of now, based on what you said, considering you can comfortably afford both, I’d pick UMass Honors.
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Congrats on great options!!
Since both are comfortably affordable, which school does your child prefer?
If Honors is only at U Mass I’d have my child do a deeper dive on the program advantages.
My D’s honors college experience at a different school was fantastic. It did open pathways to earlier job opportunities, guaranteed research, honors specific study abroad, etc…. She had a very competitive post graduation job offer in hand before she even started her senior year, and knew it was coming when she was still a first semester junior. That wouldn’t have happened without her honors college.
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We are asking her to pick, and she is ok with both now. I guess we have to visit one more time and do more research about honor. Bing didn’t give her honor program, but I see that she can join in the future if she does well.
We eliminated UNH because it doesn’t have diversified student population.
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Another visit to the two top options is a great way to go. The accepted student days really helped my S solidify and feel great about his final choice.
Congrats to your D on the excellent acceptances!
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Just be aware that “joining later” is offered as a consolation prize but in reality not as good because the advantages and the impetus they give make the most difference during the first year (ie, being in a more focused dorm with a core group of classmates whom you know and will challenge you, professor contact vs. large lecture halls and long waiting time for office hours which discourage freshmen, personal advising vs. meeting a random person once in the semester, etc.) It’s better to start in Honors and leave than try&do the reverse.
I hope the visits go well and clarify things 
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What is her intended major?
My GS is a NYer in Honors at UMass, a sophomore majoring in Engineering. A quiet kid, he has found a friend group, all from the Boston area. Playing on a club lacrosse team has helped. His honors dorm is really nice. (I visited.) He’s loving his experience at UMass so far.
It’s hard to justify $48,000 over 4 years for one state university over another, but if she wants the experience of spending her 4 years with fellow students from outside of NY, UMass will offer that. Depending on her intended major, what can make the UMass experience qualitatively different (better?) is the 5-college consortium. Amherst College, only 2 miles across town offers small classes and world class professors. Same thing at Smith College about half an hour away in Northampton. To me, these factors + the fact that she wants to go out of state would in fact make UMass worth the extra cost.
If she likes music, a nice bonus is the fact that Northampton/Amherst combine to form the 2nd biggest booking venue in New England. From the 1300 seat Calvin Theater and 1000 seat Academy of Music, to 600 seat Sweeney Concert Hall, to the 180 seat Iron Horse Cafe and the 75 seat Parlor Room, Northampton is teeming with opportunities to see top performers. Both towns have numerous clubs with live performers. UMass itself has 4 different concert venues with the largest, 10,000 sear Mullins Center, primarily a sports arena, able to accommodate crowds for really big name acts. This kind of hub for the arts alone makes this area different from Binghamton.
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