Affording a Catholic college for multiple children

[Joe_5859]

As someone who went to a state school in a town that had a Catholic college as well I’m going to say that’s probably a no.

Obviously, my experience cannot be extrapolated to all, but I have attended both a large state school and one of the colleges on the Newman list, and there is absolutely no comparison between the drinking and bad behavior. Did some students at the Catholic college drink and do other bad things? Sure. But it wasn’t nearly as prevalent or widespread. There was peer pressure to not do those things.

There are a lot of Catholic colleges out there, and the campus culture is going to fluctuate a lot, I’m sure. But I know the one I went to was a veritable Catholic Disney World.

 

[Paul71]

There are a lot of Catholic colleges out there, and the campus culture is going to fluctuate a lot, I’m sure. But I know the one I went to was a veritable Catholic Disney World.

And I’ll ask you a similar question to the one that I asked TC3033: Would you mind to tell me which Catholic college you went to?

And a couple of follow-up questions, even if you prefer not to answer the first question: Are you glad that you went there? Do you feel that going there made a positive impact on your life?

 

[Cruciferi]

But I’m just as much concerned about other factors, like putting them in a good environment to discern their vocation during college

College is really expensive. I’m not sure that it’s the best place for discernment. Hopefully, they’ll have some idea about what direction they want to take their lives. Otherwise, college can become an expensive maze of endless classes and no degree to show for it.

and minimizing their exposure to negative peer pressure.

I never lived on campus so I didn’t experience those issues. But let’s forget college for minute, the workforce alone will expose them to the numerous negative aspects of humanity. Some jobs might have higher standards but overall I’ve met very few people who share my values or beliefs.

 

[Paul71]

College is really expensive. I’m not sure that it’s the best place for discernment. Hopefully, they’ll have some idea about what direction they want to take their lives. Otherwise, college can become an expensive maze of endless classes and no degree to show for it.

I’m not talking so much about career discernment, but more about vocational discernment – i.e., marriage (and who to marry) or priesthood or religious life. I think that most people do at least part of that discernment during their college years, and I think that a young adult would have better support for that discernment on a campus where the majority of students and professors are practicing, committed Catholics.

 

[TC3033]

I’d rather not say, but that specific one is not on the list.

I know some people who went to St Thomas and they enjoyed imbibing.

 

[phil19034]

I am a father of four boys, ranging from 2nd grade to 9th grade. My wife and I feel strongly about sending our boys to one of the Catholic colleges recommended by the Newman Guide , if we can afford to do so. But as with most colleges these days, most of these Newman-recommended Catholic colleges are very expensive, especially when all costs are factored in (tuition, room & board, books, and any other miscellaneous expenses).

To be honest, a few of them are actually relatively cheap. The University of Mary for example is pretty affordable.

I also recommend considering community college for at least 1 year (if not 2) to take basic classes. It can really help to save money for the basic classes.

God bless

 

[Cruciferi]

I also recommend considering community college for at least 1 year (if not 2) to take basic classes. It can really help to save money for the basic classes.

A friend of mine is doing this. It’s a good option.

I started and finished my degree at a satellite campus. It was significantly cheaper and I didn’t need a parking pass

 

[JanetF]

My only kiddo is a junior in college, I know you asked about multiple kids, but some of the info I have is applicable…

1. private schools often often enough scholarship money to make the cost of attending similar to attending a public state school.
2. It’s okay to take on some student loan debt. I recommend no more than a total of the equivalent of a first year’s salary. So if your kiddo is going to make $40K right out of school he shouldn’t borrow more than $40 K total in student loans.
3. the higher the ACT score, the more $$ the schools will shave off.
4. creative ways to save, would include becoming an RA to save on room and board; some colleges have special scholarships depending on the profession including free rides. Ex: Ole Miss and Miss State Univ have programs for teachers that pay full COA if you’ll commit to teaching in MS for 5 years after graduation. Look into those sorts of programs, BUT be very sure about the major, because if your child changes their major, as mine did, then this reverts to a loan that has to be paid back.

Your child’s HS guidance counselor should also be an avenue of getting information about scholarships.

In addition, you might also consider whether 4-year college/university is what your child wants. There is a severe shortage in the trades in the US. Maybe they’d like to go into welding or another construction field, which isn’t a bad thing!

Keep your options open and try to relax, it’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to.

 

[TheLittleLady]

I forgot to mention, do look into study abroad options.

Friend of mine’s kid is getting her masters not only for $0 but is getting paid while doing it. In Spain, she is teaching English classes and gets free tuition and a living stipend.

I know kids who are in med school in Spain for $5k per semester.

 

[Allegra]

It seems to me like you are looking at this a little backward. You’ve already selected the acceptable schools when you have no idea what your children’s goals are going to be. I understand being proactive about saving money, but it sounds like you are already doing that to the fullest extent you can. To me, the first step would be to figure out what it is your kids want to do. If, for example, their life goal is to own a restaurant, it would be foolish to spend a fortune on a private, liberal arts college when there are options available that are tailored exactly to that specific goal. The first step is a goal, the second step is figuring which educational option provides the best means of obtaining that goal, and THEN the next step is figuring out how to pay for it. Of course there are things you and your kids can do that will be helpful no matter what they choose such as getting the best grades possible, perhaps taking a prep class for the ACT, applying for private scholarships when they are in high school, taking college credit classes, etc. I’ve known people who were eligible to graduate high school as a junior, but took a program their senior year which earned them over 20 credit hours of applicable college coursework for free.

 

[Paul71]

It seems to me like you are looking at this a little backward. You’ve already selected the acceptable schools when you have no idea what your children’s goals are going to be. I understand being proactive about saving money, but it sounds like you are already doing that to the fullest extent you can. To me, the first step would be to figure out what it is your kids want to do. If, for example, their life goal is to own a restaurant, it would be foolish to spend a fortune on a private, liberal arts college when there are options available that are tailored exactly to that specific goal. The first step is a goal, the second step is figuring which educational option provides the best means of obtaining that goal, and THEN the next step is figuring out how to pay for it. Of course there are things you and your kids can do that will be helpful no matter what they choose such as getting the best grades possible, perhaps taking a prep class for the ACT, applying for private scholarships when they are in high school, taking college credit classes, etc. I’ve known people who were eligible to graduate high school as a junior, but took a program their senior year which earned them over 20 credit hours of applicable college coursework for free.

It would not have been feasible for me to include every nuance of our thoughts on helping our children plan and prepare for adulthood in my initial post. But yes, I agree that depending on each of our children’s goals, abilities, and so on, it is possible that one or more of them might be better off learning a trade, or going into the military, or taking a year or two off before starting college, or attending a non-Catholic college, or even going directly into seminary. These are possibilities that we have discussed and are very much aware of. And we actually do have some idea of what our children’s goals will be, at least in the case of our oldest child, though of course there is still plenty of time for those goals to change.

My questions did make some assumptions about where our children will go to college, because I see those assumptions as our preferred default plan – a plan that we want to be prepared for. But of course that plan can change, and that plan will be tailored as needed to each of our individual children. What is right for one of them may not be right for another. But there is still a lot of value in gathering information on how other families have faced the challenges of paying for college for multiple kids, and that’s essentially what I’m trying to do here.

 

[Paul71]

But let’s forget college for minute, the workforce alone will expose them to the numerous negative aspects of humanity. Some jobs might have higher standards but overall I’ve met very few people who share my values or beliefs.

I haven’t had that experience myself. While I’m sure that many of my co-workers don’t share all of my values and beliefs, I haven’t found them to be a bad influence on me – a very big difference from my experience at a well-respected state university. I can’t be certain whether or not my experience is typical. But it is my experience, and I don’t think it’s wrong for me to take it into consideration.

Also, by the time that a person graduates from college and enters the workforce, that person is more mature and better able to withstand bad examples, peer pressure, and so on.

But even if we disagree on what type of college is best, that’s not really the point of this thread. The issue of how to pay for college is something that applies to state universities, private secular universities, Catholic universities, and so on.

 

[Wampa]

@Paul71, I applaud you on your plans to send your kids to authetically Catholic colleges and your efforts to explore how to accomplish it well in advance. This kind of thing gives me hope for our society!

To be honest, a few of them are actually relatively cheap. The University of Mary for example is pretty affordable.

To build on this, the University of Mary has a Year-Round Campus option that allows kids to save money and maximize future income by graduating with a Bachelors degree in 2.6 years or Bachelors+Masters in 4 years:

 

[ShrodingersCat]

Yea, in Ireland overseas students’ fees were about twice the fees for domestic students. Of course, domestic students only paid fees if they failed a year and had to repeat it.

But even at €5000 a semester for overseas students,cm I imagine it would be substantially cheaper to move to Europe to study as long as the degree is transferable.

 

[dochawk]

In all seriousness, is it practical for you (or your wife) to become employed by one of these schools.

Most Catholic colleges have no tuition to employees of four years or more.

Your kids can also begin to work paying jobs in their teens, perhaps do odd jobs earlier (mow lawns, rake leaves, shovel show, walk dogs, etc in the neigborhood) and save that money. As teens they can work aftershool and on weekends/breaks toward their college fund.

Unfortunately, with the byzantine math of college aid, if they receive need based aid, their own savings reduce that almost dollar for dollar (35% of assets of student is treated as ability to pay each year!). [that’s about 82%]

Fortunately, my children agreed that getting out without student loans is more important than where they went. (and, as a practical matter, they needed to start at the JC anyway for nob-financial reasons)

 

[Clementine14]

In all seriousness, is it practical for you (or your wife) to become employed by one of these schools.

This is actually my plan, if my kids choose to go to college locally. (I’ve worked mostly at universities in general though.) It’s a really great way to help your kids graduate without debt, if you can do it.

I have a long way to go before then, so I don’t have experience actually sending my kids to college yet. But I doubt we will be able to afford much when they’re that old.

I went to undergrad at a Catholic college (not on the Newman list). My parents could not afford to send all of us to college- they’d already paid for Catholic schools for us and it wasn’t feasible. So, I got a nice grant and some scholarships, did work-study and took out the rest in student loans. It ended up coming out to just about what I would have paid for full tuition at our state school. Still a lot of money though. They’re nearly all paid off now, and that includes graduate school. But it was hard.

I think that if you’re already saving for them, there isn’t really much more you can do except encourage the kids to do well and apply for scholarships. And consider that going to a college on the list might be a lot more important to you than it is to them.

 

[Paul71]

In all seriousness, is it practical for you (or your wife) to become employed by one of these schools.

Most Catholic colleges have no tuition to employees of four years or more.

That’s an interesting idea. I actually have thought of exploring that option. That’s probably something that I need to take a closer look at.

Unfortunately, with the byzantine math of college aid, if they receive need based aid, their own savings reduce that almost dollar for dollar (35% of assets of student is treated as ability to pay each year!). [that’s about 82%]

Yes, I’ve heard that too. I have considered having them contribute much of the money that they make as teenagers to Roth IRA accounts. That won’t help them directly for college, but it sets them up for a better financial future, without impacting any potential financial aid for college.

 

[Paul71]

This is actually my plan, if my kids choose to go to college locally. (I’ve worked mostly at universities in general though.)

In your experience working for universities, what kinds of policies have you seen on tuition discounts for children of university employees?

 

[TheLittleLady]

Unfortunately, with the byzantine math of college aid, if they receive need based aid, their own savings reduce that almost dollar for dollar (35% of assets of student is treated as ability to pay each year!). [that’s about 82%]

Savings that is kept in a safe deposit box will pay tuition

 

[JanetF]

> In all seriousness, is it practical for you (or your wife) to become employed by one of these schools.

> Most Catholic colleges have no tuition to employees of four years or more.

That’s an interesting idea. I actually have thought of exploring that option. That’s probably something that I need to take a closer look at.

Bolded above which is a quote…While it’s true that many colleges offer tuition remission for employees children, you usually have to have a length of service. You can’t start working in May and send your kiddo to college the following august and expect it to be free. Ex: Saint Louis University has a 3–year service requirement. So yes, it’s a great benefit, you’d have to get started before your kids get into high school AND, you have to hope that they want to go to the same institution. Not many colleges offer tuition remission for the child to attend another university, unless like Saint Louis University they engage in a tranfer program with other jesuit universities.