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Post by buddysmom on Jun 22, 2016 13:50:43 GMT
Tuition here is really reasonable compared to other states--but the fees--and the names of the fees are so vague that you don't know what they are for.
For two classes this summer at a state school, tuition is 900 and fees are almost 600.
We bought prepaid tuition way back but opted out on the fees because "how much can fees be, minimal, right?"
Wrong!
Are "fees" really high in your state also?
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gsquaredmom
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Posts: 4,091
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jun 22, 2016 13:56:25 GMT
Yes. Many fees that were once state supported are now passed on in Illinois. The state has been cutting higher Ed funding for years. The ones that drive me nuts are things like athletic facility fees even when it's not used.
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Post by mikklynn on Jun 22, 2016 15:08:06 GMT
Ah yes, fees. It's not just tuition. It's how politicians avoid raising taxes. It's not a tax, it's a fee. It's not tuition, it's a fee.
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Post by Tamhugh on Jun 22, 2016 16:33:29 GMT
I just looked at DS's college website. His fees for a year as a full-time student are approximately $2500. That is at a state university. DS#1 went to a "state-affiliated" university and his were quite a bit lower, but his tuition was higher.
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 22, 2016 16:59:48 GMT
I just paid for a three credit class. The tuition was 1230 and the fees were 230. Thankfully he gets an in state credit that paid for the fees. I was surprised that one credit is $400. Apparently when you become a junior, the cost of your credits increase dramatically. So yes, your fees are high, but your tuition seems low.
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 9:20:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 17:23:27 GMT
My fees are pretty close to being equal with my tuition.
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Post by epeanymous on Jun 22, 2016 17:26:28 GMT
The annual tuition + fees for 2016 at our flagship state university is, per the website, a little over $11,800, but the site doesn't break that into tuition versus fees. If the fees are mandatory, it makes sense to me to present the cost as a lump sum, but perhaps there are differences in how financial aide is calculated according to whether it is covering tuition or fees? I have no idea. I do agree with other posters that, in general, state funding for higher education has decreased, and rather than raising tuition, legislatures are sometimes tacking on "fees" that mean you're paying more, but, hey, tuition isn't going up!
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 9:20:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2016 17:32:02 GMT
The annual tuition + fees for 2016 at our flagship state university is, per the website, a little over $11,800, but the site doesn't break that into tuition versus fees. If the fees are mandatory, it makes sense to me to present the cost as a lump sum, but perhaps there are differences in how financial aide is calculated according to whether it is covering tuition or fees? I have no idea. I do agree with other posters that, in general, state funding for higher education has decreased, and rather than raising tuition, legislatures are sometimes tacking on "fees" that mean you're paying more, but, hey, tuition isn't going up! Whether it is tuition or a fee will affect what is paid by financial aid. But a bigger issue might be that tuition raises require a review and approval by authorities outside the university while fees are much more controlled internally. They generally don't require approval beyond the university presidential council. Also, school like to be able to say we haven't raised tuition in X number of years even though fees went way up... they told the truth but not really. |
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 22, 2016 17:34:40 GMT
My friend challenged a few fees that she did not agree with and they took them off. I don't know if that would work for everyone, but it worked for her.
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Post by epeanymous on Jun 22, 2016 17:41:27 GMT
The annual tuition + fees for 2016 at our flagship state university is, per the website, a little over $11,800, but the site doesn't break that into tuition versus fees. If the fees are mandatory, it makes sense to me to present the cost as a lump sum, but perhaps there are differences in how financial aide is calculated according to whether it is covering tuition or fees? I have no idea. I do agree with other posters that, in general, state funding for higher education has decreased, and rather than raising tuition, legislatures are sometimes tacking on "fees" that mean you're paying more, but, hey, tuition isn't going up! Whether it is tuition or a fee will affect what is paid by financial aid. But a bigger issue might be that tuition raises require a review and approval by authorities outside the university while fees are much more controlled internally. They generally don't require approval beyond the university presidential council. Also, school like to be able to say we haven't raised tuition in X number of years even though fees went way up... they told the truth but not really. I'm embarrassed to say that, even though I am faculty, and I have an advisory vote on tuition increases, I don't know what the process is after we have those votes. It makes sense (I suppose, if I want to put it that way) to hide cost increases in fees that don't require as much process to approve. I know we had a major fee increase here because the university built a new athletic center that was required in order for the university to enter Division One sports, and that, while the faculty at my professional school generally votes on tuition increases for our students, we didn't have the same say about the fee increases, so you're probably right. |
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Post by epeanymous on Jun 22, 2016 17:42:10 GMT
My friend challenged a few fees that she did not agree with and they took them off. I don't know if that would work for everyone, but it worked for her. I'd say that in general, universities are far more open to cost negotiation than students may realize, and that it in general can't hurt to self-advocate. |
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 22, 2016 17:57:06 GMT
My friend challenged a few fees that she did not agree with and they took them off. I don't know if that would work for everyone, but it worked for her. I'd say that in general, universities are far more open to cost negotiation than students may realize, and that it in general can't hurt to self-advocate. I told my son he'd better swim in that dang pool that we pay for. He went one night and had a great time, so now I feel those fees are worth it! |
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Post by genny on Jun 22, 2016 18:00:06 GMT
Tuition here is really reasonable compared to other states--but the fees--and the names of the fees are so vague that you don't know what they are for. For two classes this summer at a state school, tuition is 900 and fees are almost 600. We bought prepaid tuition way back but opted out on the fees because "how much can fees be, minimal, right?" Wrong! Are "fees" really high in your state also? I paid DS's tuition yesterday for ONE class this summer that is one month long. 2 hours, 4 days a week. My bill was $1305 and the actual tuition part is $522.  It seriously boggles my mind that we have to pay for all this stuff that he doesn't use. We have to pay for transportation even though he has a car. Hell the athletic facility fee is $200 per semester and he doesn't even use it, he use the gym we are already a paying member of! And that doesn't include any books. I feel your pain. I dread fall. |
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iowgirl
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Post by iowgirl on Jun 22, 2016 18:31:35 GMT
Apparently when you become a junior, the cost of your credits increase dramatically Yes - that was a nice little surprise. Times 3. LOL At least we were expecting it after the first one. |
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Post by Really Red on Jun 22, 2016 20:18:58 GMT
I have twins in college. Tuition is a product of the devil.
I wish - I WISH SO MUCH - I knew how to get as much financial aid as some people appear to get. I am a single parent. I make a reasonable amount and I can afford what - IMHO - is a reasonable amount, but they (the educational institutions) want to leave me with 10% of my savings for my retirement. I don't know how reasonable people afford all this.
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Post by compeateropeator on Jun 22, 2016 21:42:16 GMT
The tuition is high but the fees seem reasonable at our state university.
For in-state student summer sessions it is:
1 Credit - 428.00 + 10.00 fee.
2 Credits - 856.00 + 20.00 fee
3 Credits - 1284.00 + 30.00 fee.
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Post by epeanymous on Jun 22, 2016 21:49:40 GMT
I have twins in college. Tuition is a product of the devil. I wish - I WISH SO MUCH - I knew how to get as much financial aid as some people appear to get. I am a single parent. I make a reasonable amount and I can afford what - IMHO - is a reasonable amount, but they (the educational institutions) want to leave me with 10% of my savings for my retirement. I don't know how reasonable people afford all this. I apologize if this is a vent, or if you have already done this, but you and your kids really can try to negotiate with the school. Depending on your kids' credentials, their ability to transfer, what transfer institutions might give them, etc., it is possible to pitch a case to the school that your kids should receive a better package. Sometimes it can be getting them to exclude your house's value from their calculation of your assets, e.g.; sometimes it is comparing what they will give you to what other schools are offering to your student, or what schools your student could transfer to based on their credentials whether or not they apply. I can tell you that I negotiated for myself at every school that I attended (in the 1990s), and that the negotiation practice is even more rampant now (although, for other readers, at the point of acceptance is the best time to negotiate). To some extent, if you do not negotiate, you end up covering costs for people who do. The sticker price for universities vs. the discount price is often considerable. If your kids are at a public rather than private college, it's harder to negotiate (although I have still heard success stories). |
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 22, 2016 22:10:17 GMT
I have twins in college. Tuition is a product of the devil. I wish - I WISH SO MUCH - I knew how to get as much financial aid as some people appear to get. I am a single parent. I make a reasonable amount and I can afford what - IMHO - is a reasonable amount, but they (the educational institutions) want to leave me with 10% of my savings for my retirement. I don't know how reasonable people afford all this. Thankfully my dad left us money that went straight into our kids College Invest program 15 years before they would need it. I love that the kids have to show what they have for investments and in savings. So kids who save every paycheck and don't buy the latest and greatest gadgets are penalized for having good spending habits. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2016 0:37:13 GMT
I have twins in college. Tuition is a product of the devil. I wish - I WISH SO MUCH - I knew how to get as much financial aid as some people appear to get. I am a single parent. I make a reasonable amount and I can afford what - IMHO - is a reasonable amount, but they (the educational institutions) want to leave me with 10% of my savings for my retirement. I don't know how reasonable people afford all this. Thankfully my dad left us money that went straight into our kids College Invest program 15 years before they would need it. I love that th e kids have to show what they have for investments and in savings. So kids who save every paycheck and don't buy the latest and greatest gadgets are penalized for having good spending habits.The kids that got financial aid likely got a lot of loans... they will be paying for that financial aid for the next 20 years with interest. Your kids will have the money then to buy the latest/greatest on an adult pay check.. or save for retirement. |
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Post by hop2 on Jun 23, 2016 0:46:19 GMT
I have twins in college. Tuition is a product of the devil. I wish - I WISH SO MUCH - I knew how to get as much financial aid as some people appear to get. I am a single parent. I make a reasonable amount and I can afford what - IMHO - is a reasonable amount, but they (the educational institutions) want to leave me with 10% of my savings for my retirement. I don't know how reasonable people afford all this. Thankfully my dad left us money that went straight into our kids College Invest program 15 years before they would need it. I love that the kids have to show what they have for investments and in savings. So kids who save every paycheck and don't buy the latest and greatest gadgets are penalized for having good spending habits. I know one girl Who graduated with my daughter refused tom'save' her money in the bank for this reason. I'm Not convinced it makes a difference, it feels like if your not choosing between housing & food on a monthly basis then your not really going to get aid according to the fafsa. |
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 23, 2016 0:47:25 GMT
Thankfully my dad left us money that went straight into our kids College Invest program 15 years before they would need it. I love that th e kids have to show what they have for investments and in savings. So kids who save every paycheck and don't buy the latest and greatest gadgets are penalized for having good spending habits.The kids that got financial aid likely got a lot of loans... they will be paying for that financial aid for the next 20 years with interest. Your kids will have the money then to buy the latest/greatest on an adult pay check.. or save for retirement. Take my money out of it. They would still be penalized for saving. Depending on the career path they choose, they would still have loans up the wazoo and not be able to buy the gadgets without going into debt. My son's gf does not have parents who will pay for her college, but because she has worked and saved, she gets less assistance. Had they spent every dime, they would have more help paying for college. |
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 23, 2016 0:48:07 GMT
Thankfully my dad left us money that went straight into our kids College Invest program 15 years before they would need it. I love that the kids have to show what they have for investments and in savings. So kids who save every paycheck and don't buy the latest and greatest gadgets are penalized for having good spending habits. I know one girl Who graduated with my daughter refused tom'save' her money in the bank for this reason. I'm Not convinced it makes a difference, it feels like if your not choosing between housing & food on a monthly basis then your not really going to get aid according to the fafsa. From what we have seen, it makes a difference. |
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Mary Kay Lady
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PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Jun 23, 2016 1:11:21 GMT
Goodness! I must really be out of touch. I had no idea that college fees were so high. That's crazy!!
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by melissa on Jun 23, 2016 1:32:38 GMT
For two classes this summer at a state school, tuition is 900 and fees are almost 600 I'm having trouble getting past that! My jaw dropped that you are paying less than the cost of a single three credit class at in state tuition rates for 2 classes. In state tuition is $362 per credit hour at the local state university, over $400 if you are taking classes from the school of science, engineering or pharmacy. There is a $280 campus fee, a school fee that ranges from $25 to $108 with the highest being the school of the arts this time, a $5.75 per credit business liason fee (what is that?), a computer fee that is prorated by credits at a high of $157 for the semester for 12 credits, and some courses have fees. There are also two other fees listed as optional. We also did a pre-paid tuition plan for the state of Massachusetts. Why MA when we live in NJ? It seemed to be the best plan at the time with a wide variety of school choices. I don't think dd was even in kindergarten when we started paying into it. We saved enough for her to go to a second tier private school. It will work out in the end even though she is not a traditional student. Actually, it will work out BECAUSE she is not a traditional student.  |
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Post by Really Red on Jun 23, 2016 1:38:34 GMT
I have twins in college. Tuition is a product of the devil. I wish - I WISH SO MUCH - I knew how to get as much financial aid as some people appear to get. I am a single parent. I make a reasonable amount and I can afford what - IMHO - is a reasonable amount, but they (the educational institutions) want to leave me with 10% of my savings for my retirement. I don't know how reasonable people afford all this. I apologize if this is a vent, or if you have already done this, but you and your kids really can try to negotiate with the school. Depending on your kids' credentials, their ability to transfer, what transfer institutions might give them, etc., it is possible to pitch a case to the school that your kids should receive a better package. Sometimes it can be getting them to exclude your house's value from their calculation of your assets, e.g.; sometimes it is comparing what they will give you to what other schools are offering to your student, or what schools your student could transfer to based on their credentials whether or not they apply. I can tell you that I negotiated for myself at every school that I attended (in the 1990s), and that the negotiation practice is even more rampant now (although, for other readers, at the point of acceptance is the best time to negotiate). To some extent, if you do not negotiate, you end up covering costs for people who do. The sticker price for universities vs. the discount price is often considerable. If your kids are at a public rather than private college, it's harder to negotiate (although I have still heard success stories). Thank you epeanymous While I was venting, we just got our packages for the coming year. One daughter was down $9600 PLUS the new increase in tuition of nearly $3K and the other (at a state school) was down $5K. This ALL because my house value went up so much (they said so). My daughter at the private school talked directly with the financial aid guy who wrote ME a note praising my daughter. It was a proud mama moment that really meant very little in the end. He said she was one of the few students in his years of being a financial aid counselor who contacted him and if he could, he'd give her a full scholarship because she was so eloquent our both of our behalves, but this college works strictly on need and that is that. This is my DD who works 60 hours/week and travels 3 hours round trip to get to work on top of that. She is penalized while her fellow students spend the summer in Europe playing. I have cut back on everything - no cable (I do have internet!), lower cost phones and everything I can think of. I'm frustrated. My DD's school gave us an extra $1100, which, while nice, is not enough. They expect my DD's dad to pay, which he is not. My other DD is calling her school tomorrow, but it's a state school and I doubt we'll get anything. All this because our home prices went up. That does NOTHING for me as I am not selling this home!! And who knows what the prices will be when I sell! |
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Post by Really Red on Jun 23, 2016 1:41:17 GMT
Also, my DD does take out a lot of loans. She wanted to go to a good private school (I could cry with how good it has been for her - worth every cent!!). My other DD has minimal loans. She didn't want that, but she's not so happy at her school.
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Post by epeanymous on Jun 23, 2016 1:53:12 GMT
I apologize if this is a vent, or if you have already done this, but you and your kids really can try to negotiate with the school. Depending on your kids' credentials, their ability to transfer, what transfer institutions might give them, etc., it is possible to pitch a case to the school that your kids should receive a better package. Sometimes it can be getting them to exclude your house's value from their calculation of your assets, e.g.; sometimes it is comparing what they will give you to what other schools are offering to your student, or what schools your student could transfer to based on their credentials whether or not they apply. I can tell you that I negotiated for myself at every school that I attended (in the 1990s), and that the negotiation practice is even more rampant now (although, for other readers, at the point of acceptance is the best time to negotiate). To some extent, if you do not negotiate, you end up covering costs for people who do. The sticker price for universities vs. the discount price is often considerable. If your kids are at a public rather than private college, it's harder to negotiate (although I have still heard success stories). Thank you epeanymous While I was venting, we just got our packages for the coming year. One daughter was down $9600 PLUS the new increase in tuition of nearly $3K and the other (at a state school) was down $5K. This ALL because my house value went up so much (they said so). My daughter at the private school talked directly with the financial aid guy who wrote ME a note praising my daughter. It was a proud mama moment that really meant very little in the end. He said she was one of the few students in his years of being a financial aid counselor who contacted him and if he could, he'd give her a full scholarship because she was so eloquent our both of our behalves, but this college works strictly on need and that is that. This is my DD who works 60 hours/week and travels 3 hours round trip to get to work on top of that. She is penalized while her fellow students spend the summer in Europe playing. I have cut back on everything - no cable (I do have internet!), lower cost phones and everything I can think of. I'm frustrated. My DD's school gave us an extra $1100, which, while nice, is not enough. They expect my DD's dad to pay, which he is not. My other DD is calling her school tomorrow, but it's a state school and I doubt we'll get anything. All this because our home prices went up. That does NOTHING for me as I am not selling this home!! And who knows what the prices will be when I sell! Ugh. I am sorry. You work hard, you play by the rules, you raise awesome kids, and you pay more because of things beyond your control. The plus is that you your daughters sound like they are going to launch as successful humans, which is what all of us aspire to. |
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It seriously boggles my mind that we have to pay for all this stuff that he doesn't use. We have to pay for transportation even though he has a car. Hell the athletic facility fee is $200 per semester and he doesn't even use it, he use the gym we are already a paying member of! And that doesn't include any books. I feel your pain. I dread fall.
