Are Student loans worth it for a top 20 school

Data10
Wed, 30 Dec 2020 01:39:14 +0000

MYOS1634:

The stats I found for their top 25% was 500 math, 470 EBWR (Collegedata, as per CDS). Is 1260 LSU?
Seconding running the NPC on Vanderbilt.

3rd party websites can be unreliable with such stats. The 2019-20 CDS lists a 1250 75th percentile SAT, not <1000. However, it makes little sense to focus on SAT for an in-state student from LA – a state where students are typically required to take ACT and only ~5% of students take SAT. As one would expect, very few LA Tech students submitted SAT – only 3% of the class in 2019-20.

Rather than focus on test scores or USNWR ranking, I’d suggest focusing on the criteria that is important for the applicant’s personal goals and personal values. For example, the OP mentioned considering engineering and considering pre-med. Neither field is known for emphasizing prestige of college name. Will LA Tech help achieve his related goals in these fields or others he is considering?

If having a high concentration of high achieving students is important, I’d suggest reviewing honors/accelerated type course offerings. For example, I see that LA Tech offers an honors that is limited to students who have high stats. So it follows that honors courses should have a high concentration of high stat students. In addition to the higher concentration of high achieving students, it looks like honors classes are capped at a max 15 students and are taught by “the best and most innovative faculty members.” Honors students also get “designated honors residential accommodations,” suggesting a high concentration of high achieving students in dorms as well, if that is desired.

Regarding the original question of whether $110k loans is worth it. It depend on your particular financial situation and values, but I expect for the vast majority of persons, it would be a definite no. Starting out with $110k in loans can be a major burden. A student who is accepted to Rice probably has numerous other options without loans… some that are likely near free with scholarships. It doesn’t have to be a choice of only LA Tech with no debt vs Rice with $110k debt, although there is certainly nothing wrong with LA Tech.