Vanderbilt undergrad, graduating with 40k debt : worth it?

cluelessinKS
Thu, 09 Apr 2015 18:18:16 +0000

Vanderbilt has offered $40,466 in a need-based grant. The estimated cost for the 15-16 academic year is $65,118 for tuition, housing, etc. (plus some additional travel expense fees). I can probably come up with $2,500 in work-study leaving a $22,152/year. My family can (hopefully) contribute $10,000/year and I hope to receive some additional scholarship money, so I’d try to get by on borrowing $10,000 per year to attend Vandy. That’s how I’m coming up with graduating in 4 years with $40,000 in debt.

KU has offered $5,000/yr FAS Scholarship for my 34 on the ACT, plus another $4,750/yr KU Opportunity Grant. Estimated cost to attend KU is $23,516 (tuition, housing, etc.) leaving $13,766 to come up with on my own. I should be able to get by taking out $5,000 or less per year to attend KU.

I’m so confused. My college choice is changing by the hour. Mostly going back and forth between KU/Vandy.