the increase in apps to ACC / SEC schools is driven by more than just common app (although definitely one factor, like it is for any common app schools). There is also an underlying appeal, and a large migration from the NE region.
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So far we have financials from 4 of the 6 schools my daughter applied to.
1 is below the NPC.
2 are more than the NPC, but âonlyâ by a few thousand.
CU Boulder has exceeded the NPC by $20K.
In hindsight, we probably should have applied to more private colleges, but we had a hard time finding the right combination of acceptance rate, marching band, size, major and location with most private colleges.
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and $$$$
And covid restrictions.
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âOnlyâ. Thatâs a lot.
For those on budget, you âmustâ find a school that can 100% achieve budget.
Relying on NPCs is risky. You might put in the wrong amounts or when they IDOC, they make different assessments.
I forgot the criteria, but lots of schools with band and engineering that could hit your budget.
Glad you found one you love.
Others might not be so lucky.
Sometimes, budget causes trade offs but it beats bankruptcy.
We couldnât find a current npc for boulder⊠just this:
https://ofa.colorado.edu/netpricecalculator/
Based on 2021-22
I still canât find one on their financial aid pages.
Was my 1st inkling that something not right here, $-wise at least.
The way they handed out merit and honors, was another.
Now new COA⊠not for us⊠was a safety, anywayâŠ
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Yeah, for us we could have absorbed
the few thousand; we were even offered help by a family member if it came down to it. But thankfully we are not going to need to do that. I know others are not so fortunate.
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makes sense to me. We have almost let go of UW. We are not taking any âaid loanâ and not sure how it even appeared and maybe DS screwed up the FAFSA somewhere. Cu is somethign that we follow for a long period of time and with some scholarship (6.25k) and honors, I was leaning towards it. I sit straight now and wait out all schools before calling it. paid $50 at UT to hold the âspotâ
yes, the inflation at CU is pretty remarkable and something I didnât appreciate when my S25 applied
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Your kid probably had nothing to do with the loan showing up.
The school wants to minimize the look of the net price, so they put the loans that you could qualify for into the calcâŠ. Later you have the option to accept/not accept the loan.
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An interesting tidbit on locked pricesâŠmy S is at CU. He started in exploratory studies. The price lock was the price for Exploratory. He switched to Arts and Sciences and ultimately into Leeds. Each time you switch schools, the locked price resets to the semester you started in that school. I wonder if that is why they put so many kids in Exploratory - even the high stats kids.
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That would explain a lot, but how shady can you get?
We knew going in that Boulder was the biggest question mark financially. My daughter wanted to try anyway. Now that the numbers are out, and we have info from other schools, her interest has naturally declined. For the cost of the application, I guess that was worth it.
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Iâm sure next year it will be 73+10%. I think still UT, UIUC, PSU, UCs havenât released their price tag for 2025-26. It makes sense to wait out till end of March to make a call for OOS like my DS.
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The cost you are quoting, I believe, includes other things beyond tuition, room and board. Travel, books, etc. I canât find what you are quoting anyway - only for summary.
Room and board is really a one year # as most move off campus. In some places, it will go down. In others up. They are estimating near 18k - so youâd have to find a personal tuition, room and board situation of $1500 a month to break even. If you spend less, youâll save. Many will spend more.
Colorado has a tuition guarantee.
I believe you are all misreading the situation in regard to tuition increases.
Like other schools (Purdue, UMN as examples), they have different costs by majors. Higher paid majors like business and engineering cost more.
So if you are in Engineering on day one, your tuition will be higher than if you are in exploratory.
So they are not raising based on a reset for the year.
They are basing it on which of the four tiers you are in.
So if you decide engineering isnât for you and you major in history or philosphy instead, youâd not see any tuition increase from Exploratory. So in that sense Exploratory is a nice save and since requirements to transfer to engineering are easy, you might actually be appreciative for the save.
Tier 1 Costs
- Arts & Humanities
- Education
- Music
- Open Option in Arts & Sciences
- Program in Exploratory Studies
- Social Sciences
Tier 2 Costs
Tier 3 Costs
Tier 4 Costs
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Here is the letter with new estimate that I received. Yeah only tuition and housing billed by Cu and rest is the estimate. No idea until end of freshman year where DS will plan. The tuition cost have gone up compared to last year.
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My son is already done with cal BC and AP stats⊠Doing calculus 3 this year⊠and still placed in exploratory 
I dunno but if you can remove the ego, itâs a gift.
Itâs easy to move to engineering and in the meantime, youâre paying a lower tuition rate.
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You are correct. Somewhere its about ego⊠When you know your high stats kid could have easily got into their engineering. He already got into Northeastern CS.
Boulders exploratory is not even close to purdueâs FYE. Its one level below ( Correct me if i m wrong)âŠ
For tuition:
We got almost same estimate as Jay bharadwaj ( just after chancellors scholarship.
Yes and no.
Purdueâs is an entry in the engineering programâŠbut you do the first year as all do. You are not promised a specific major in engineering. If you get past the requirements at CU - which arenât onerous - youâll be placed into your major of choice from what I read. So itâs really splitting hairs in some (not all ways) and in some ways terminology.
After seeing the tuition differential and the ability to study other things, I think Iâd have preferred my son to get this exploratory major - but he got direct admit and got Purdue with merit. Yet he chose Alabama (against an unhappy dad) and he did just great.
Purdue, Colorado, Mines, Maryland, UF - wherever else he got in - didnât take it personal that he said no and chose a lower ranked school.
So you shouldnât take it personal that CU made the decision they did. Itâs their choice - and itâs ok to say no if itâs not right for you (as my son did).
Per CU, this is why they do exploratory. It could simply be that the students applying to these two programs are that good - well above the rest of the university so not a knock on your son. Itâs actually a highly ranked program and not sure you should compare to NU CS - not sure their admit rate by that program.
I guess the main thing with college admissions - donât take it personal.
As for tuition, I remember the other year, 99% got either $6,250 a year (or $25K as they call it) or nothing - and the other 1% 15K or 17K. So going in, everyone should be aware if cost is an issue - CU, Illinois, Wisconsin, Penn State, Va Tech, etc. - these are schools you should carefully study the full price or close to it to ensure it aligns with your budget. In essence, one who educates themselves on likely costs (and I know, itâs easier to do after the fact as applying to college is a learning process) at least is aware of the reality up front.
If you applied to the College of Engineering and Applied Science or the Leeds School of Business, but were admitted into the Program in Exploratory Studies, you may be wondering what this means. This page provides helpful information on what Exploratory Studies is, the Intra University Transfer (IUT) process and next steps for connecting with an academic advisor.
First, we want you to know that you are not alone. Out of the overall entering class in recent years, approximately 20% of students applied to but were not admitted to engineering or business. Each college, school or program at CU Boulder determines their capacity for new students, and many more students apply to engineering and business than there is capacity available.
Here is info on engineering (and others can toggle to business) on success rate.
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We are fully aware of the tuition cost and kind of know we have to spend 60-80K per year for an engineering program⊠We are totally ok with it⊠just that going into an undeclared major doesnt make sense to us.
If you see csrankings.org
Northeastern is ranked 11th vs cu boulder 50th
I am in noo way favoring or-against any college âŠ
just my 2 centsâŠ
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You donât have to spend $60-80k, but you are choosing to 
Good luck at NU or wherever your son decides to attend.
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