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<p>Extra semesters spent in co-op jobs are not semesters you spend tuition for (you may be spending living expenses, but you should also be paid by the employer). Graduating in 8 school semesters plus 1 or 2 co-op job semesters is a lot different from graduating in 9 or 10 semesters because you took light course loads, changed majors late, or had to repeat failed courses. But be sure to check how financial aid and scholarships work if you take semesters off to co-op and then return.</p>
<p>In any case, if Purdue is $68,000 total, that is a much more realistic option than Georgia Tech at $160,000 total including $56,000 of debt if you are not confident enough in the recruiting and job seeking prospects at Louisville. (Georgia Tech and Purdue have career surveys on their web sites, but not as detailed as the ones at Berkeley, Cal Poly, and Virginia Tech; you may still want to call the various schools’ career centers for more information.)</p>