One last comment and I’ll stop - many parents (not saying yours) have investment accounts or 529 plans - and what may have seemed reasonable three months ago may not be looking reasonable today as many people are down, 10, 20, 30% or more.
So there’s that part of it too- in fact, I am not going to use my 529 right now because it’s gotten too low. Fortunately, I have the ability to pay outside of it but not everyone does.
So your first year, with a loan, you have $25,500 - unless your parents have more to add or want to take out an expensive loan on their own - so the question is, where can you go to school for $25.5K.
That’s why everyone is saying - do the NPC.
Cornell lists their total cost at $82,552. Don’t forget, they have no merit aid.
So if the NPC shows you are full pay and you have $25,500, where will you get the other $57,552? And that’s one year - and without inflation - i.e. their costs will go up each year.
Hopefully in this case you have need - but many families find out they don’t…or they have minimal need.
So it’s important to do that very soon - so you don’t miss on other opportunities should you need them.