- I’m asking for a specific #. In other words, I was full pay and I could afford anywhere. As WUSTL told me when they pushed ED and said I could get out of it if I can’t afford the #, I said - I can afford the # but I didn’t want to afford the #. I set a $50K max.
That’s what I’m asking - you could swing it - but you want to save for grad school - so what’s your #. If you say $50K, I’m going to tell you Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh aren’t happening - they might not admission wise anyway. But a Clarkson, New Paltz, ESF (amongst small schools), Hartford, and Gannon certainly will.
Many can pay but choose not to. I would set up a budget - otherwise you’ll end up spending more than you want - and you will be unhappy later. Everyone needs a budget. For some, that budget is $95K. For others, not.
As an aside, I’m a believer in spending the 529 first - vs. spreading it out. Of course, if you believe investment gains are ahead, that’s ok - but you could always add more as you pull out.
CT - so likely not what you want but regionals like CCSU can work - and save you $$. SUNYs are relatively inexpensive too.
You noted engineering
Chemical at UMass Lowell is part of the NE Tuition Break
Mechanical is at Lowell and URI
Ocean Engineering - if interest with Marine - is at URI and UNH
Marine Affairs - not sure what it is - is at URI
Marine Bio is at Salem St and U Maine at Machias
Marine Science - U Maine
Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology - at UNH
All those are discounted for New England families.
So I think - most schools are big - but not all and then some (U Maine and UNH are small for flagships) - but the major will also determine class size.
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Obviously athletics changes things - but engineering is really the biggest limiter because if for example, she did Earth Science - then you open the worlds of Wheaton or Hobart or SUNY Geneseo or Ursinsus or Juniata or Allegheny or Susquehanna, etc.
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A 3+2 likely isn’t a good approach for most - even non-athlete…because who wants to leave their friends after 3 years and re start where others are established.
I think most every engineering school has non-engineering options - some more than others.
For smaller, take a look at New Paltz (only MechE, geology), ESF (where you can take classes at Syracuse…it’s sort of a small and big school all in one), U Maine, UNH, etc. but I realize they might not help with recruiting.