Cal COE will give useful credit for many APs (that actually helps fulfill major requirements). EECS majors coming in with typical APs can easily graduate early if they choose, or can take free electives.
When my son compared to UCLA it appeared that they would not take as many as Cal (towards both Gen Ed and major requirements), but you would need to check the details as I haven’t looked at this since last year.
My kid goes to UCLA (she is a second year) and tuition, room and board was around $28k her first year. She was in a classic triple with the most expensive meal plan (19P). She was exempt from the $3500 health care (we have insurance for her), and her books cost maybe $500 all year (most professors use PDFs or digital books, she has had very few textbooks to buy). We did fly her up to the Bay Area a few times (and you will have cross-country tickets x 2 if they both go).
As for APs, she received about 56 units for her 12 AP classes. She tested out of a few requirements (like first year writing, foreign language, etc). She could have graduated early but is double majoring instead. You mentioned engineering—that’s intense and I think few graduate early (challenging classes as well as difficulty getting them all when you need them).
She adores UCLA — and we consider it a great value. But UPenn at 30k is an even better value!
I think if they are excited about UPenn, it seems pretty ideal. Do they want to go to school together and do they like UPenn?
Is this a Banneker Key Scholarship ? If yes, then this is a true full ride merit scholarship package and should be accepted.
If one son matriculated at U Maryland with a full ride merit scholarship, then focus on the other twin son as this will allow for more financial flexibility.
P.S. Not sure how accurate this chart is, but interesting that average salary for EE shows as the same for California and for Maryland according to zip recruiter dot com.
It is. He doesn’t want to go there given other options. I don’t feel comfortable pressuring him.
$28K is not bad. Their father lives in LA area since 2017, so it would be very easy for them to visit him if they both go to UCLA. They don’t necessarily have to go to the same college. They do want Penn, it’s our local Ivy, but I am concerned with possibility of cost increase and I don’t think Penn engineering is as good as Berkeley or UCLA
Thank you! I haven’t visited myself, but I let him know he can easily avoid these events
You can expect tuition to go up a bit every year—or if they choose a different roommate set up, then the housing might go up.
This year, my daughter chose a plaza suite with a shared bath and the 19p meal plan. Tuition went up by $1k, too. So this year was more like $31k for tuition, room and board.
Next year, I see tuition is $15k. And she wants to live off campus. Her portion of rent is around $1k per month, plus, I’ll probably give her around $500-$600 for food and utilities (she has 5 roommates). So, probably around $32-33k next year.
The living costs can vary… and your kids could stay in the dorms all 4 years, too. UCLA guarantees housing on campus as long as you want it—something Berkeley doesn’t offer. That said, a lot of kids are ready for more independence when they are juniors.
I’m explaining all this to give you a realistic idea of what we have been paying… but also, I would try not to cut it so close to the vest that it bothers you to pay an extra $2-3k for increasing costs, a better living situation or expensive plane tickets home. Better to have a buffer and feel confident in your ability to pay.
Edited to add: Our exact costs for 2022-2023 were $28,930 for tuition, fees, room and board (classic triple—cheapest housing; 19P meal plan—most expensive meal plan). Our costs for 2023-2024 are $32,050 (plaza triple, shared bath and 19P). I think @lkg4answers is correct— the increase is from the more expensive housing choice and more fees). Tuition is the same as when we started in 2022. So that’s great!
Is your ex-husband’s income likely to stay at the higher rate, or is the increase likely to be for 2023 only? I ask because if the latter, a lot of colleges have a process to recognize “one time income” – although I don’t know if it would apply in this situation. It is something he could ask about, though, if the situation is relevant.
He started a new job in 2023, so I don’t think it’s one time event
Are you sure tuition went up? Or was it the non systemwide fees that increased? The UC system has a Tuition Stability Plan where a student is guaranteed the same tuition as the year then entered until they graduate (up to 6 years).
Mmm now that you say that, I don’t know! I pay what they ask me to pay… and the tuition and room and board are all lumped into one bill so the increase may have only been from fees and housing. I’ll go look!
Do you trust him?
I ask because it’s happened b4 and then there’s a pickle - either you strangle yourself with debt or they have to leave and find a different home - and all the current offers will be gone so it might mean a Temple or West Chester type. And it seems to go from I won’t contribute to sure I will - seems fraught with risk (at least how it was laid out here…obviously I don’t know him. I know my sister’s ex and in-laws contributed not a nickel for her two kids - and they promised some so I’m biased.
OSU is HUGE but spread out. Haven’t been to UMD - but I wouldn’t judge by an admitted student day but by what they saw on campus - usually you can separate the tours vs. the normal.
I appreciate you giving him a choice on UMD and if you can afford it, it’s great. At the same time it is a huge savings, a strong engineering program and if it will put you on better footing, maybe you can explain this to him - that you saving over $100K will impact your life.
Let me disagree with some posts above. UMD is not Engineering school. It is OK for Engineering but not as good as GaTech or some CA schools.
If you want to avoid antisemitism I would stay away from CA and Upen… It is too toxic now.
GaTech does give a lot of AP credits and your twins can graduate in 3 years.
You have a lot of excellent options and some serious concerns. Not an easy decision.
By this, few or not schools are engineering schools (hello Rose Hulman).
UMD is well reputed for engineering but yes has business, arts &sciences, journalism and more - as does Ga Tech, which even has its on school of Econ in addition to Scheller.
It’s not ranked as high and is a more traditional university - as are the UCs and Penn.
But it’s an outsanding school or at least well reputed - and free, depending on mom’s finances, is a HUGE weight off anyone’s shoulders who is getting need based aid and worried about increasing incomes.
UMD is great in CS and in top 10 give or take in Aerospace Engineering. GaTech is top 10 in every Engineering field it has…
I do understand financial aspect.
My S22 EECS kid never goes to campus other than for clubs, labs, and exams. Spends most of his time at his frat house and stays away from the well known activist hotspots. Cal is big enough that you can easily cocreate your own small college environment.
I understand - but mom has financial need and you’re talking free vs. $200K.
It has to be considered.
As you know, in most engineering fields, the where isn’t overly relevant. In this case UCB may be.
But in the end, mom potentially has financial considerations - and two kids - and stuff could/may go wrong and one free could completely eliminate that risk on half her portfolio.
It’s up to mom to decide but that would be a big heck of a concern that might become a constant worry at some point lifted.
But I was just noting that most schools aren’t engineering per se - unless it’s an Olin, Rose Hulman, etc.
But UMD is certainly a strong school - maybe not the rank of others but the student has a full ride and that has benefit too, beyond financial, including the BK council and Honors College and more.
That is very sad… You do not want to spend 4 years in college avoiding campus.
My 2 daughters spend 100% of time on campus.
I know. I offered $50K to each of them if they take a full ride (both were finalists, one at UMD the other at OSU, but OSU didn’t work out). The offer still stands for one of them and I explained how many opportunities he will have at UMD (such as study abroad, it’s covered by the scholarship, research positions etc.) At any other college they will have to take at least federal loans and probably more, but I aim under $50K for each in total. Also, many kids at UPenn come from very wealthy families and can afford a lot. I explained to them that I don’t have money for spring breaks in Miami or ski trips. My ex-husband is a decent person, but he was in a difficult situation. I have in my divorce agreement that we contribute equally to the kids education. I am sure it can be enforced if needed, but I hope it won’t come to that. NJ is one of very few states that require support beyond high school.
You misunderstand what I intended. My son loves Cal (one of the reasons I’m the resident Cal simp) but his schedule and priorities are reflective of a campus where anyone can do what they want and easily avoid situations they don’t like. With his frat leadership, consulting club commitments, coding club projects and EECS honor society he simply doesn’t have time to go on campus. The point is that Cal gives tremendous optionality and no one should worry about the micro trend on any end of the political spectrum.