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

anhydrite
Sat, 11 Apr 2015 01:55:48 +0000

MYOS, I do not understand your calculations for this student. I don’t think he gets a $5000 scholarship from the state of Kentucky if he attends Vanderbilt – how are you subtracting that $5,500 off of his costs, then coming up with a mere extra $1,500 to attend Vanderbilt for him? If that were the case, sure, go. But those numbers don’t obtain for me. I may be missing something re: Vanderbilt financial aid structuring; if so, I am happy to learn.

I feel like there are many speculations and estimates going on, which may or may not play out over the years. All we know for certain now is that if he comes up with roughly $2,500 work study (likely, not certain), he’s on the table this upcoming year for 22,152. Hopefully parents contribute $10K towards that; again, not certain, and not clear how it will affect his family dynamic. Plus travel costs / any extras Vanderbilt may require overall. KU is $13,766 on the table per year, reduced travel, possible parental contribution, possible work contribution.