Cornell vs UVA (Debt vs No Debt)

anhydrite
Tue, 28 Apr 2015 11:16:18 +0000

I would not recommend taking on $60,000 or more undergrad debt for Cornell when your other option is UVa. It may be easy to throw around figures and look up internet salary tables when you are eighteen. Not so easy when the loans will hang around your neck, in an economic climate that may be quite competitive for hiring. Those starting salaries seem inflated to me, but it is your bet to hedge.

Also remember that part of Cornell is a state school as well (not that this should make a difference either way, as they are both fine institutions); and that viewed from an academic perspective, these two would be considered peer institutions. Cornell has more STEM research, but it is also larger. Cornell’s students aren’t appreciably better than UVa, if at all, and the UVa alumni network is quite strong. If you could get the costs down at Cornell, and that is truly your best path, then I’d consider it.