Is a High-Cost Undergraduate Degree Worth the Debt for Aspiring Scientists?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kaos86
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    debt
AI Thread Summary
Transferring to the University of Vermont as an out-of-state student comes with a significant financial burden, with total tuition estimated at $200,000 for a degree. Concerns about accumulating substantial debt are prevalent, especially given the limited earning potential in physics-related careers. While the university offers small class sizes and personalized attention from professors, many suggest exploring more affordable options or financial aid opportunities to mitigate costs. The discussion highlights the importance of weighing the benefits of the university experience against the long-term financial implications of student loans. Ultimately, careful consideration of both academic goals and financial realities is essential before making a decision.
  • #51
Why don't you want to go to college in Florida? If it's just because you "hate" it, then that could all change when you move out of your parents and gain some independence.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #52
contramundum said:
It takes people 20-30 years to pay off the mortgage on a house. I don't see how everyone looks at that as being "okay". Why doesn't the same apply for student loans?

Because you have to live SOMEWHERE. Whether you're paying for a mortgage or paying rent, you're still paying something every month. Do you have a 3rd option where you don't pay to live somewhere?
 
  • #53
Alienjoey said:
If you have little or no income, you should be getting a good deal of financial aid...But it's still a going to be a lot of money that you have to pay, regardless.

yeah, I did the math already. Its unbelievable and the financial-aid only covers half of the tuition. I can try to get a scholarship, but it will not be enough.
 
  • #54
kaos86 said:
yeah, I did the math already. Its unbelievable and the financial-aid only covers half of the tuition. I can try to get a scholarship, but it will not be enough.

You could find out what is required to establish residency in Vermont. Usually, you have to live there for a year. If you choose to do this, first find out from the University what they require to prove residency. Often, you'll have to have evidence that you've lived there (rent receipts, utility bills...that sort of thing).

Yes it's a year of waiting, but it might be worth the wait.
 
  • #55
lisab said:
You could find out what is required to establish residency in Vermont. Usually, you have to live there for a year. If you choose to do this, first find out from the University what they require to prove residency. Often, you'll have to have evidence that you've lived there (rent receipts, utility bills...that sort of thing).

Yes it's a year of waiting, but it might be worth the wait.

I would do this if I had enough money to rent a room in some hotel, or if I have family member there. Good idea though.
 
  • #56
kaos86 said:
well, the U. of Vermont is built in the city of Burlington. Thus, I don't need a car and I could walk anywhere if I want. The bus is free to U. of Vermont students, too. I know some universities offer free transportation from there shuttle buses, however; when I finish school, how will I get around now? I really want a small city or city by the university. I looked at different websites saying that you can walk any where or use a bike in the U. of Vermont. I wish I can take the car I'm sharing with my brother, but I think he needs it more since he's not going to school anymore(He's got his A.A. degree but he does not want to go to a university).
But again, there's nothing specific to U. of Vermont in there. Plenty of other schools (dare I say most) are located in small towns where everything in town is within walking distance, and I'm sure many other schools have arrangements to provide free or heavily discounted public transportation for students. (Bear in mind that that's where part of your tuition money would be going) Heck, pretty much everything you've said you like about UV is equally true of Princeton, where I went to college, and Princeton's tuition is nearly $10000 cheaper. Plus, financial aid can easily cover 3/4 of the total cost of attendance, or more. Maybe you should look into going there.
 
  • #57
diazona said:
But again, there's nothing specific to U. of Vermont in there. Plenty of other schools (dare I say most) are located in small towns where everything in town is within walking distance, and I'm sure many other schools have arrangements to provide free or heavily discounted public transportation for students. (Bear in mind that that's where part of your tuition money would be going) Heck, pretty much everything you've said you like about UV is equally true of Princeton, where I went to college, and Princeton's tuition is nearly $10000 cheaper. Plus, financial aid can easily cover 3/4 of the total cost of attendance, or more. Maybe you should look into going there.

Sounds like a nice place, but its a hard school to get into. The U. of Vermont is an average entrance. If I tried to transfer to Princeton, I'm sure I'll get rejected.
 
  • #58
Did some calculations. I just subtract the total four year tuition with the financial-aid:

Loan Balance: $135,248.00
Adjusted Loan Balance: $135,248.00
Loan Interest Rate: 6.80%
Loan Fees: 0.00%
Loan Term: 10 years
Minimum Payment: $50.00

Monthly Loan Payment: $1,556.44
Number of Payments: 120

Cumulative Payments: $186,772.53
Total Interest Paid: $51,524.53

One possibility with the Stafford interest rate and the loan term.
 
  • #59
kaos86 said:
well, the U. of Vermont is built in the city of Burlington. Thus, I don't need a car and I could walk anywhere if I want. The bus is free to U. of Vermont students, too. I know some universities offer free transportation from there shuttle buses, however; when I finish school, how will I get around now? I really want a small city or city by the university. I looked at different websites saying that you can walk any where or use a bike in the U. of Vermont. I wish I can take the car I'm sharing with my brother, but I think he needs it more since he's not going to school anymore(He's got his A.A. degree but he does not want to go to a university).
I don't get it. This is why you want to get in 200K of debt??
 
  • #60
kaos86 said:
Sounds like a nice place, but its a hard school to get into. The U. of Vermont is an average entrance. If I tried to transfer to Princeton, I'm sure I'll get rejected.
Well, true, Princeton is pretty competitive, but you can't be sure you wouldn't get in. (Though for the record, you can't transfer to Princeton, they only accept applicants as freshmen) (EDIT: sorry, I didn't realize you were already a college student)

Anyway, the point I really wanted to make was that there's really no reason to be paying that much to attend college. Any college. What you're describing as your ideal university sounds a lot like a pretty typical one, and I don't see any reason for you to be so attached to the University of Vermont. If I were in your situation, I would have dropped the idea of going there pretty quickly once I found out how much it costs.
 
  • #61
cristo said:
Why don't you want to go to college in Florida? If it's just because you "hate" it, then that could all change when you move out of your parents and gain some independence.

To build on Cristo's comment -

When I turned 18, I promptly moved 100 miles away from my parents. I got a job, rented an apartment, and found a roommate to offset rent and utility costs. I was still close enough to visit my parents when I wanted to, but far enough away that I could live my own life. It worked out very well.

Your profile says you're a student at Valencia. I'm sure you don't want to go to UCF, since that probably means living at home with your parents. But what about the other 10 schools in the state university system? (USF, UF, FSU, UNF, UWF, FAU... the list goes on) You could move away and be independent, but still pay in-state tuition rates.
 
  • #62
Jokerhelper said:
I don't get it. This is why you want to get in 200K of debt??

Nah, just doing some research and making some calculations. You people are really helping me here. I really appreciate it.
 
  • #63
Bill_B said:
To build on Cristo's comment -

When I turned 18, I promptly moved 100 miles away from my parents. I got a job, rented an apartment, and found a roommate to offset rent and utility costs. I was still close enough to visit my parents when I wanted to, but far enough away that I could live my own life. It worked out very well.

Your profile says you're a student at Valencia. I'm sure you don't want to go to UCF, since that probably means living at home with your parents. But what about the other 10 schools in the state university system? (USF, UF, FSU, UNF, UWF, FAU... the list goes on) You could move away and be independent, but still pay in-state tuition rates.

I'll double check on the universities in my state, but I just hope they have free transportation for shuttle buses and on-campus housing.
 
  • #64
If you're determined to leave Florida you could look into UVA or UNC. Apparently they give pretty good OOS finaid.
 
  • #65
diazona said:
Well, true, Princeton is pretty competitive, but you can't be sure you wouldn't get in. (Though for the record, you can't transfer to Princeton, they only accept applicants as freshmen) (EDIT: sorry, I didn't realize you were already a college student)

Wait, a transfer student has a bigger chance getting into a hard-entrance university? I should try but I only have a 3.0 GPA from my community college. Do you think it needs to get higher for a better chance? I will try if I only need a 3.0 or higher from the GPA scale.
 
  • #66
kaos86 said:
I'll double check on the universities in my state, but I just hope they have free transportation for shuttle buses and on-campus housing.

Sorry, but why do you even care if the transportation is free? Paying for a monthly bus pass should be the least of your worries financially. Plus, in any case I doubt it's actually free anyway, most likely it if a transportation pass is offered there will be some sort of mandatory fee included in your tuition fees, whether hidden or not.
 
  • #67
Jokerhelper said:
Sorry, but why do you even care if the transportation is free? Paying for a monthly bus pass should be the least of your worries financially. Plus, in any case I doubt it's actually free anyway, most likely it if a transportation pass is offered there will be some sort of mandatory fee included in your tuition fees, whether hidden or not.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing when I read that. "40,000 per year in tuition? No problem. 200 per year in bus passes? NO WAY!"
 
  • #68
Jokerhelper said:
Sorry, but why do you even care if the transportation is free? Paying for a monthly bus pass should be the least of your worries financially. Plus, in any case I doubt it's actually free anyway, most likely it if a transportation pass is offered there will be some sort of mandatory fee included in your tuition fees, whether hidden or not.

That's what I'm looking at. Hidden charges and probably more hidden charges from this school. I just want a university that can be reliable for transportation. I read the review from a website about this university and the students review it. They had different topics about the university: Academics, Diversity, on-campus housing, transportation, etc...

BTW, the website is Collegeprowler.com
 
Last edited:
  • #69
Do all US States charge higher rates for out-of-state students? I'm surprised by this.
 
  • #70
kaos86 said:
That's what I'm looking at. Hidden charges and probably more hidden charges from this school. I just want a university that can be reliable for transportation. I read the review from a website about this university and the students review it. They had different topics about the university: Academics, Diversity, on-campus housing, transportation, etc...

BTW, the website is Collegeprowler.com
If I were you I'd try to ignore those kinds of websites as much as possible. us students can be very trivial with what is relevant and important for a good university/college. I'd be surprised if more than 2% of those ratings were from physics students. Finding good instructors and most importantly taking time to do your own studying will be far more helpful than anything else a university offer.

Also, since you care so much about public transportation, my city (Calgary) was named a few years ago to have the worst public transportation in major North America cities. Yet I've hardly ever had problems getting to my school on time. If it can't get any worse than my situation, you will most likely be fine.
 
  • #71
Jokerhelper said:
Do all US States charge higher rates for out-of-state students? I'm surprised by this.

I'm surprised, too. I was trying to double check this tuition and I think my calculations are correct. If I do go to this university, I see myself working hard. However, the debt repayment will take years to pay back. What if I do get a good job? I will continue my education to try to earn a Ph.D. in physics. If I get a Ph.D. in physics and I get a good job, will it increase my chance to pay this monstrous debt even faster? It all depends how hard I work as a physicist or find a good well paying job.
 
  • #72
Jokerhelper said:
Do all US States charge higher rates for out-of-state students? I'm surprised by this.

The reason for this is each student's education is heavily subsidized by the state. If a student is from out of state, then it's presumed his family hasn't been paying into the state coffers (through various taxes), so he will have to make up the difference. Also there's less chance for him to stay as a tax-paying resident. So it's not in the State's interest to spend lots of $$$ educating out-of-state students.

As far as I know, all states have higher tuition rates for out-of-state students.
 
  • #73
lisab said:
As far as I know, all states have higher tuition rates for out-of-state students.

That is true. I was looking at the U. of Delaware and its a bit expensive as well. Still, better then the U. of Vermont. The only problem I have with U. of Delaware is that its in a suburban area.
 
  • #74
kaos86 said:
I'm surprised, too. I was trying to double check this tuition and I think my calculations are correct. If I do go to this university, I see myself working hard. However, the debt repayment will take years to pay back. What if I do get a good job? I will continue my education to try to earn a Ph.D. in physics. If I get a Ph.D. in physics and I get a good job, will it increase my chance to pay this monstrous debt even faster? It all depends how hard I work as a physicist or find a good well paying job.

My main concern though is that this debt is completely UNNECESSARY and USELESS. The universities in your state offer physics programs that are probably just as good if not even better than Vermont. If you want to go on to get a Ph.D., what really matters is getting good grades, hired in summer jobs at labs, getting some research under your belt and possibly your name published in as many science journals as possible.

If you go on to get your degree for those fees, well best thing that can happen is you will end up getting your bachelor with 180K of unnecessary debt. At worse, when you realize how this will affect your life you will freak out.
 
  • #75
lisab said:
The reason for this is each student's education is heavily subsidized by the state. If a student is from out of state, then it's presumed his family hasn't been paying into the state coffers (through various taxes), so he will have to make up the difference. Also there's less chance for him to stay as a tax-paying resident. So it's not in the State's interest to spend lots of $$$ educating out-of-state students.

As far as I know, all states have higher tuition rates for out-of-state students.

Oh I see, thanks. So are they basically like international students (only without the visa charges)?
 
  • #76
kaos86 said:
Wait, a transfer student has a bigger chance getting into a hard-entrance university? I should try but I only have a 3.0 GPA from my community college. Do you think it needs to get higher for a better chance? I will try if I only need a 3.0 or higher from the GPA scale.
Sorry if you were confused by my post - I was saying that Princeton doesn't accept transfer students at all.

And I suspect the same is true of most other highly competitive colleges as well (although I'm not sure).
 
  • #77
diazona said:
Sorry if you were confused by my post - I was saying that Princeton doesn't accept transfer students at all.

And I suspect the same is true of most other highly competitive colleges as well (although I'm not sure).


Pretty sure Harvard, Stanford, Duke and those other places do. For the UC system, they only accept junior year transfers though and they aren't exactly cheap either.

What about Canada? College there is less than $47k a year and there's public transport (depends...). And don't get hooked on the whole I have no car and will need transportation thing. $200 in bus passes is nothing compared to $47k tuition or the cost of a car.

Sometimes, private colleges have more financial aid to offer than state, but I don't know about transfer students. Might be worth a look.

I've been looking at colleges too...really glad I recently moved to Cali so I can take advantage of in-state without being bored of this place and needing to leave.
 
  • #78
kaos86 said:
Hi, I was wondering if anyone went or transfer to a university and ended up "knee-deep" debt. I wanted to ask this because the university I'm trying to get into is very expensive, but I love everything else about the university. BTW, I'm an out of state student transferring to the University of Vermont.(total tuition for out of state: $45,188)

Is there any particularly reason you have to go to that university? I'm pretty sure that you can find a university with comparable quality of education that is much, much cheaper.
 
  • #79
Jokerhelper said:
My main concern though is that this debt is completely UNNECESSARY and USELESS. The universities in your state offer physics programs that are probably just as good if not even better than Vermont. If you want to go on to get a Ph.D., what really matters is getting good grades, hired in summer jobs at labs, getting some research under your belt and possibly your name published in as many science journals as possible.

Same here concern here. Also if you save $15K in tuition, you can buy a used car that will take care of your transportation needs, and fly yourself first class to physics conferences.
 
  • #80
First, let me answer the question at the top. Yes, it's worth it to be in debt for education. Education improves your quality of life, it improves your earning potential, and unlike a car or a house, it cannot be repossessed. Estimates are that a college degree increases the average earning potential by something like a million dollars over a lifetime.

However, one must still ask if the sort of education you will buy makes this a wise investment. UVM is charging 90% of what Harvard or Princeton charges. Are you getting 90% of the education? They don't have a reputation of a strong department, and in looking at the course catalog, I didn't see evidence of a particularly strong program.

You can argue that there is more to UVM than the strength of the physics program - for example, Burlington is a quaint New England town where it might be nice to live. However, now you're buying something in addition to education. That's your choice, but you should recognize that you are doing that.

As far as substantial out-of-state financial aid, it's unlikely. Vermont ranks 49th among the 50 states in state tax revenues (having neither a sales nor income tax), so their university is not overflowing with cash to help non-residents. Rarely, a university can offer in-state tuition to an out-of-state student they are trying to recruit, but this student must be truly exceptional.

If you still are certain you want to go to UVM, you might seriously think about moving there for a year to establish residency. The difference in tuition is $80K over four years, so it would be equivalent to taking an $80K a year job.
 
  • #81
Jokerhelper said:
Oh I see, thanks. So are they basically like international students (only without the visa charges)?

Yes, that's right.
 
  • #82
Vanadium 50 said:
If you still are certain you want to go to UVM, you might seriously think about moving there for a year to establish residency. The difference in tuition is $80K over four years, so it would be equivalent to taking an $80K a year job.

Sounds like a good idea. However, I think I found a good university. The U. of Buffalo is a great place near a large city. The out-of-state resident has to pay $103,952, but with financial-aid it will be $96,653. You guys think its a better choice? I believe this university can be "the one" for me. I have a 3.0 GPA and a transfer applicant needs a 2.5. Transportation is depended on walking, buses, and some metro rail. It's in a large city, so I think I can find a part-time job.

Thoughts please.

Edit:

tuition for one semester is $25,988
 
Last edited:
  • #83
Vanadium 50 said:
If you still are certain you want to go to UVM, you might seriously think about moving there for a year to establish residency. The difference in tuition is $80K over four years, so it would be equivalent to taking an $80K a year job.
My niece moved to CA for just that reason. She spent a year waitressing and tending bar to support herself before starting college. It made financial sense.
 
  • #84
turbo-1 said:
My niece moved to CA for just that reason. She spent a year waitressing and tending bar to support herself before starting college. It made financial sense.

How old is your niece? And how was this process made? Did she get help from a family member ,or did she borrowed some money to move over there?
 
  • #85
kaos86 said:
How old is your niece? And how was this process made? Did she get help from a family member ,or did she borrowed some money to move over there?
She got help from her parents to move out there, but worked her way through college pretty much on her own steam. She's now in her 30s and is a dental hygienist (she went back to school for additional training for that). Good thing, too. Her husband lost his job (industrial electrician) and she was able to support them while he stayed at home with their son.
 
  • #86
kaos86, this is what you should do. Move to Vermont for a year to establish residency, then go to school. Then you can get in-state tuition...I know it will delay you a year, BUT it will save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Another thought that may save you money, is take a lot of your general education classes at a community college, however, make sure that the classes you take are equivalent with the University of Vermont. A lot of schools establish relationships with the local community college.
 
  • #87
Vanadium 50 said:
If you still are certain you want to go to UVM, you might seriously think about moving there for a year to establish residency. The difference in tuition is $80K over four years, so it would be equivalent to taking an $80K a year job.

My thoughts exactly. This is what I did in my state and it costs me 75% less of what I would have paid. Taking a year off can be annoying but if you use it wisely it can be *very* beneficial. I self studied and worked full time for that year. It made the most financial sense because now I have a great job (relevant to my career goals) while I'm in school.

In my experience, working full time then going to part time after you've been at a place for a bit is a smooth transition. As opposed to getting a job while in school and you have a bunch of limitations initially that need to be brought up during the interview. The hiring manager might be turned off about your "high maintenance" needs. Also, working full time a year before school starts gives you a nice bubble of savings to let you coast through the school years.
 
  • #88
turbo-1 said:
She got help from her parents to move out there

She's lucky to have help from her parents. My parents cannot help me to make that big move. I have no money, no job, and no help from my family members. The reason why I want to get away from my state and move up north is because I'm trying to find a state with a large city. I cannot take my car and I need something to get around. It's either walking or biking around the city.

I'm not going to this U. of Vermont. It's too expensive and there program has no "deep" description about the physics programs. All I can smell from the U. of Vermont is "rip-off".
 
  • #89
huskerwr38 said:
kaos86, this is what you should do. Move to Vermont for a year to establish residency, then go to school. Then you can get in-state tuition...I know it will delay you a year, BUT it will save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Isn't it too late now, and that doing this will delay him 2 years (or 1.5, if you can start in the spring semester)?
 
  • #90
DrummingAtom said:
My thoughts exactly. This is what I did in my state and it costs me 75% less of what I would have paid. Taking a year off can be annoying but if you use it wisely it can be *very* beneficial. I self studied and worked full time for that year. It made the most financial sense because now I have a great job (relevant to my career goals) while I'm in school.

In my experience, working full time then going to part time after you've been at a place for a bit is a smooth transition. As opposed to getting a job while in school and you have a bunch of limitations initially that need to be brought up during the interview. The hiring manager might be turned off about your "high maintenance" needs. Also, working full time a year before school starts gives you a nice bubble of savings to let you coast through the school years.

Taking a year off is really annoying. I remember my brother took a year off from community college and the process to re-admit is annoying. He had to review college algebra because he was going to take trig. I really don't want to fall behind in my studies in physics and trying to practice could be impossible if I was full-time in some restaurant.
 
  • #91
kaos86 said:
Taking a year off is really annoying. I remember my brother took a year off from community college and the process to re-admit is annoying. He had to review college algebra because he was going to take trig. I really don't want to fall behind in my studies in physics and trying to practice could be impossible if I was full-time in some restaurant.

Having tens of thousands of dollars of debt is a bit annoying too. :wink:
 
  • #92
All right everyone. I made my decision thanks to the people in this community. I looked at countless universities and so far I believe the U. of Buffalo is my right choice. Still, I'm looking at more universities and making sure they are a bit cheap in this crappy economy.
 
  • #93
huskerwr38 said:
Having [STRIKE]tens[/STRIKE] hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt is a bit annoying too. :wink:

Fixed that :wink:. Oh and I agree.
 
  • #94
So, I really must ask, what is the average yearly tuition for students with residency in the state? Looking at the numbers on here my eyes have nearly left my head! In Canada I attend a small undergrad university and pay no more than $6000 tuition for a full course load (not sure what the costs are for out of province/international students). This still seems to be a fraction of the costs for in-state students in the USA. So I really got to ask, what are these US schools offering that costs so much money compared to Canada?

***

Thinking about people borrowing this kind of money so early in their lives (particularly to invest in a career which at best pays little more than 100K a year) seems very troubling. Doesn't this remind anyone of the housing crash?!

If you were to write this up as a business or investment proposal and take it to a bank to request a 200K loan, what do you think they would say? "So you want 200k to invest so that within the next 5 years (minimum) you can expect to make a gross income of 50K a year?"

I suppose the bank might give it too you as they think,"Great! he will be locked in with us forever but still have enough of a steady income to keep up payments!".

***

Hasn't the bubble on these kind of borrowing scheme's been burst? I personally hate borrowing a dime, even if its just a few hundred from my parents when I can't afford food or rent. If I was faced with these kinds of costs for school I would exhaust every other option before fronting that kind of cash.

I find it horrifyingly reckless to make it seem normal for young people to borrow money on this scale.

"Well, we don't think you are responsible enough to be able to buy your own beer yet, but if you need a few hundred grand at 4% interest, don't hesitate to ask."

***

So this makes me wonder, I have only heard about the Open University; never looked much into it yet. Does anyone know is this is a credible place to study that won't put a vacuum to your wallet?
 
  • #95
Zhabka said:
In Canada I attend a small undergrad university and pay no more than $6000 tuition for a full course load (not sure what the costs are for out of province/international students). This still seems to be a fraction of the costs for in-state students in the USA.

The problem here is that nobody wants to pay taxes, and state legislators are scared to raise taxes because they're afraid that they'll be turned out of office at the next election. So in most states, state funding for state-supported colleges and universities has been declining steadily for the past several years. In order to keep going without making brutal cuts in programs, colleges and universities have had to raise tuition and fees correspondingly.
 
  • #96
Zhabka said:
So, I really must ask, what is the average yearly tuition for students with residency in the state?

Around $9,000 US dollars per year for tuition, in-state. Although some states like Michigan cost $13,000 per year, in-state.
 
  • #97
Zhabka said:
So, I really must ask, what is the average yearly tuition for students with residency in the state?

Thought berkeley would be a good example.

http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/undergraduates/cost.htm

Essentially they add a 23k tuition fee for nonresidents on top of the 12.5k everyone pays. What's surprising is they apparently do the same for grad students.

http://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/cost_fees.shtml
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #98
I only read the first couple pages but I got this from it:

It seems like you know you're going there. This thread has turned into a 'people bring up good points against going there, and you defend it'

UofV is not a groundbreaking-workyourassoff to go to school dude. It seems like you like the atmosphere, and can see yourself there, but practicality needs to come into play.

I commute right now, so it's dumb cheap, but if I was living on campus(meaning BASICALLY all expenses paid) it would be around 12,000 a year. This is a huge university, state school, everything is great about it.

You're going to be 35 years old still paying off your BACHELORS...

I feel like, you're going to do, whatever you're going to do, I don't feel like you're really taking in people's opinions, but I fully agree with the person who said, that is a ridiculous amount of money to be borrowing man. You have no idea where you'll be in 15 or so years, and you have no idea if you'll be in a position to be paying back that much money.


I vote for this being a bad idea, I'm sorry, but practicality wins over most.
 
  • #99
Ha, wow. Well I was reviewing the tuition rates at my university and they are even lower than I thought (and people at my university still complain about them!). For sciences it is roughly $100 Canadian per credit hour (3 credits is a one term course, 24 to 30 credit hours is a full course load for a year). So, books included, you wouldn't be paying more than $4000 per year.

For international students the rates are about 4 times this, so if you come from out of the country it will cost you 12k to 15k per year.

I feel so unbelievably lucky when see what things cost in the USA. How can people say that soon everyone will need a post secondary education in order to find work but then make that education so inaccessible outside of taking on crippling debt when you are still hardly a legal adult? You might as well be burning books.

I know that saying this has gotten old, but that government has to get their priorities straight (not to say Canada's is any gem either).
 
  • #100
Zhabka said:
For international students the rates are about 4 times this, so if you come from out of the country it will cost you 12k to 15k per year.
That's a bit of an underestimation. As an international student I applied to six Canadian universities and tuition fees for a full course load ranged from $CAD 16k - 24.5k.
 

Similar threads

Schools Which College Should I Choose for a Career in Fusion System Design?
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad in Germany or $152,000 in the US?
Replies
6
Views
2K
Debt or No Debt? Transferring for a Physics Degree
Replies
3
Views
2K
Is Georgia Tech Worth the Added Debt for an Aerospace Engineering Degree?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Programs Interruption in BSEE transfer degree, what to do
Replies
1
Views
1K
Programs My Story: Physics Undergraduate Struggling to Graduate on Time
Replies
4
Views
2K
Low tier + no debt or top tier + loans?
Replies
24
Views
5K
Admissions Curious about my grad school prospects
Replies
3
Views
3K
Schools Advice on choosing an undergraduate school
Replies
5
Views
2K
Other Is it worth it to become a scientist?
Replies
12
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top