Everyone is different, of course, but when you say, you have more breathing room - if you say $50-60K to a kid, that’s $60K - and who knows, they might think you’ll bleed to $63K.
What I don’t understand is someone who doesn’t qualify for need, says $50K, and the schools offers no merit aid. Let’s say they say, I’m applying to Amherst and we’ll deal after all the decisions are in.
Well if your budget is $50K, you can’t go - right?
On another thread a student has a $35K budget but they are applying to Purdue. They asked again - will I get in. I said, hope not because you can’t go. It’s over budget - and he said I know. What’s worse than getting in somewhere you can’t go.
In your case, the school may or may not hit cost. And I’m ok with that - but you need rules. Mine got into Wash & Lee - no money. It was $81K. Off the list. Why did I let her apply? It could get to cost.
But schools like Cornell, Gtown - once I learned no merit, came off - there was no point.
If you’re saying - well the budget is $60K but we can flex higher if needed and you tell that to your son, then your budget is not $60K.
All are different of course but I think having defined rules help.
What’s a public LAC - it’s simply a liberal arts college that is public. My kid went to College of Charleston - it’s 9k kids but they call themselves an LAC.
Alabama - Montevallo
Colorado - Ft. Lewis
Connecticut - ECSU
Florida - New College
Maryland - St. Mary’s
Mass - College of Liberal Arts (MCLA)
Minnesota - UMN MOrris
New Hampshire - Keene and UNH Manchester
New Jersey - Ramapo
New YORK - SUNY Geneseo, New Paltz, Purchase.
No Carolina - UNC Asheville
Virginia - Christopher Newport, UVA WISE, Mary Washington, W&M some would say.
Just like private LACs, the term LAC is sort of up to interpretation. Is Bucknell with engineering and management an LAC or Richmond, dominated by business, an LAC.
Typically, these are also bargains relative to other LACs but you can be rest assured most every LAC at #50 in US News and below has to throw money to get kids!!
Look at a school like Connecticut College - not top but very well thought of - sounds like it might be the kind you are talking about.
Per the CDS, they accepted 2937. 216 were ED so if we take them out, that leaves 2721.
451 enrolled so take out the 216 and that leaves you with 235.
So 235 of 2721 they accepted made the decision to go. That’s 8.6% - so they gotta work real, real hard to get kids there. They need you more than you need them - so they will come with $$. Maybe not enough - but they have to pay to get butts in seat. If they are waiting for full pay -like rich kids who underperformed but want a big name - there are some but maybe not by and large.
btw - they are so concerned with this they Wait Listed 1550. Only 451 enrolled and yet they WL 4x that - in case they need to go deep, etc.
So perhaps I’m off but the way I see it, short of the Williams/Amherst/Wesleyan types, the consumer sits pretty good.
One last thing - if he wants an LAC or smaller school - there are many. He doesn’t have to settle for the flagship unless that’s what he wants. We can find you schools at $60k no problem.