HELP US DECIDE! Lehigh [$47k] v Northeastern [$62k, NUin] v RPI [$9k] v CWRU [$29k] [chemistry, also interested in math and env sci]

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For better community input, please provide the below details about your college offers:

Net price per year at each college, after applying scholarships and financial aid grants.

We have a benefit that pays ~half tuition that has been incorporated into these numbers and is our best estimate of annual out-of-pocket expenses +/- additional merit offers.

Lehigh U - CoA ~47K/yr = $188K total
Northeastern U - CoA ~62K/yr x 3yrs only (Co-Op model) = $186K total
Case Western - CoA ~29K/yr = $116K total
Rensselaer - CoA ~9K/yr = $36K total

Maximum parent contribution per year.

529 savings will cover all scenarios. No hardship/loans.

Major/division admitted to at each college, if applicable to the college. Also, any special programs like honors programs or combined degree programs (e.g. BA/BS->MD).

Admitted to all for Chemistry. Loves Math. Also interested in Environmental Science.
Potential careers: Chemist, Chemical Engineer, Environmental Engineer, PharmD, other

If you applied to regular fall term start, specify if you were admitted to start at a different campus, in study abroad, in an online/distance or extension program, or other than in the fall term.

Northeastern - admitted under NUin - first semester abroad. Not our preference but open minded.

Desired major and post graduation goals (including if pre-med, pre-law, etc.).

Admitted to all for Chemistry. Loves Math. Also interested in Environmental Science.
Potential careers: Chemist, Chemical Engineer, Environmental Engineer, PharmD, other

If not a frosh admit finishing high school, indicate status (e.g. sophomore level transfer, junior level transfer, frosh after gap year(s)).

n/a

International or domestic student (and state of residency if domestic).

Maryland, USA

Student preferences beyond the above (including weather, class sizes, campus culture, college demographics, fraternities/sororities, distance from home, etc.).

All schools check the boxes for all of my preferences.

Preliminary assessment of each college based on the above.

All schools check the boxes for all of my preferences.

Why did you apply to each college you are considering?

All schools check the boxes for all of my preferences.

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If all schools essentially check all of the boxes, why not pick the cheapest one?

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RPI. As indicated, it’s a great school and extremely reasonably priced. The other schools do not necessarily give you more of an advantage towards med school acceptance. You save so much money in going to RPI. I would choose RPI if there’s no specific college that is considered a dream school or head and tails better than the others.

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All great schools so congrats!!
I would consider:
–Does the student have a strong preference?
–Could $ saved by attending a less costly undergrad be put towards grad school? Or is funding grad school no issue regardless of the cost of undergrad?
–I am not a fan of freshman year abroad programs so personally I’d eliminate Northeastern from consideration. I think starting on campus sophomore year combined with the co-ops could make for a disjointed college experience. If Northeastern is an option be sure to fully understand how students are assimilated into campus life sophomore year.

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How does the student (whether you or your child) feel about whatever location this would be? Do you know where the first semester would be? I think that a semester abroad could be either a strong plus or a strong negative or somewhere in the middle depending upon where it is.

I think that these are all very good universities. Given that all are apparently affordable without any debt or family hardship, I would be inclined to consider fit first, and budget second. Fit can be hard to determine. Visiting each school could be helpful if it is feasible.

Some graduate school is a possibility, and could add some significant additional cost.

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Why would Northeastern only be 3 years but the others four?? Co op is above…you still have four years of academics.

If you can afford all, I’d choose the one you like - sans NU because the IN program is - ehhhh - if they don’t want you on campus.

Chemistry is a low paying major in general - so from an ROI POV, RPI makes the most sense.

But if they student might pivot to other majors, then maybe Case - like a social science.

RPI will be the most male dominant - if that’s an issue.

RPI shows Chem grads at $63K (much higher than a UVA/UNC), etc.

CWRU shows over half of Chem majors keep schooling beyond - so that’s another financial consideration given the major. They don’t list a salary but show bands with the most common being $40-45K. But 42% are $50K and above and 28% are below $40K.

Lehigh shows Natural Sciences and Math at $57,648.

NU says there’s too few responses to give a salary. If I use 2021, it shows 50% $60-69K with 40% above and 10% below.

I’d personally choose RPI but if you want a different type school, then CWRU. The money for great schools is jut too good. But you might also look at ChemE - for a better career outcome.

Good luck.

Average Salaries CLASS of 2024 Updated.pdf | Powered by Box

Student Outcomes 2024 | Tableau Public

Success After Graduation: First Destination Outcomes | Undergraduate Admissions | Lehigh University

Career Outcomes Powered by Experience - Northeastern University

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If interested in chemical engineering, may want to check for the presence of that major and whether it is capacity limited (difficult to change into).

Professional school like PharmD will cost extra money.

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They didn’t suggest that. I was just noting majors like chem and EnvS are typically lower paying or require grad school whereas a ChemE has high earning power.

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Thanks for the quick reply. Student does have preferences but also understands the concept of trade-offs - especially if they are temporary.

Student balked at starting abroad originally, and for all the reasons stated, and is now looking at it as a growth experience. Brave or Dumb?!?

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It’s a $200k additional gamble….for a major with high grad school participation and low paying outcomes.

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What are they? What would you do with the savings?

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Good food for thought, thank you!

For Northeastern, students do 2x6month Co-Ops during which you do not pay tuition + the student gets paid directly to work. Co-Ops are baked in and do not delay graduation.

Most schools encourage Co-Ops, and also do not collect tuition during those semesters; however, doing them may delay graduation if you don’t bring in enough AP credit.

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But I don’t believe you will have less than four years of tuition - the academics still will be there.

That’s been confirmed by an NU parent on line before so I’m not sure that it’s correct.

Maybe someone else can chime in specific to that.

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Chemistry, BS < Northeastern University Academic Catalog indicates that the suggested course plans include 18-20 credits per semester, which is heavier than the typical 15-16 credits per semester. The four year, two co-op plan includes 6 regular semesters and 3 summer sessions. The 3 summer sessions need to be included when planning for tuition and other school costs.

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This is from NU -

“Many students who complete their degree in four years opt to do either one or two coops, likely having to take summer classes at some point during their college career.”

You’re not the first parent to state this and I’ll let another chime in, but I believe other parents have come on and said - you still have 8 semesters of academics - but perhaps two summers exchange for a semester.

But your costs aren’t less.

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If considering this option (especially at this cost) I’d want to know:
–Are the courses needed to for the student’s major available overseas? Will they be taught at the same level that would be on campus?
–How are students integrated in campus the next year? For example: Is there a campus orientation for this cohort? Where will this cohort be housed sophomore year? How will sophomore year courses be scheduled? Will they be given an on campus academic advisor from the start?
–I’m sure this program can be done with success, but to me it just seems that it adds one additional challenge to starting a college career.

As noted above, I’m not a particular fan of the freshman year abroad – but in the end it doesn’t matter what I think. If it is affordable and right for your student that is all that is important.

FWIW I do agree that you should expect that Northeastern will be 4 years of college, not three. Start by looking at the graduation requirements and requirements for the major in the course catalog. If questions remain, ask admissions if you could speak to an academic advisor.

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If grad or professional or professional school are in the mix, please keep an eye on this proposal which could significantly impact loans for post bachelors work…if loans will be needed. This might not happen…or it might happen.

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In the general case, I am not seeing the value-added for Northeastern or Lehigh. For your specific kid, is there something about those schools/programs that might be worth a significant cost increment over your more affordable options?

I agree with the feedback you’ve gotten about Northeastern. 1) It isn’t just three years of tuition; it’s at least 3.5 when you include the summer sessions, if not 4. 2) When does the student get to settle into their college experience? First they’re abroad, and then when they get to the main campus, people start leaving for co-ops sophomore spring. I know that NUin can be a great experience - people make close friends and return to campus with their cohort. If it were competitive on price, I’d be more inclined to weigh the pros and cons. But for more than double the cost of CWRU, the pros have to do an awful lot of heavy lifting… plus, CWRU actually shares many of the positive attributes of NEU.

Lehigh is an excellent school, and the merit was pretty generous to get you down to 47K, but still… unless you can point to something that makes it tangibly better than Case, why pay half again as much?

So, IMHO, Case beats Lehigh and Northeastern unless some specifics convince you otherwise. Then there’s the question of, does CWRU beat RPI? RPI for under 10K/year is an amazing deal. It is, however, somewhat of a “fit school,” and if it doesn’t fit (on social vibe, academic culture, curriculum flow with mandatory summer sessions, etc.) and you don’t mind spending more, then CWRU may be worth considering.

But IMHO, the first question is, can you eliminate NEU and Lehigh, or is there something about them that’s keeping them in the running in spite of the much higher price for what are essentially peer schools to the more affordable two?

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I certainly view this exactly the same. I’d then let it be a decision between campus and surrounding environments.

In our experience Case and Cleveland exceeded our expectations and RPI was a bit underwhelming. That’s purely based on environment and fit though and would have nothing to do with the education.

A student who prefers a smaller town, closer proximity to skiing and hiking, etc. might choose Troy.

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FWIW, my D loved RPI. Felt like a smaller version of Purdue. She was wowed by their labs and maker spaces and really liked the feel of campus.

Lehigh was also on her list but she didn’t like it quite as much as RPI.

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