COLLEGE COSTS
Eugene Han & Raghav Kotha
How much does college cost?
University of Texas at Austin (Public 4-year)
Tuition & Fees
In-state: $9,830
Out-of-state: $34,836
Travel costs to and from the college to your hometown, and everyday transportation costs
Megabus: $5 from Dallas/Fort Worth to Austin, TX ONE-WAY
Car: 213 miles from Coppell, TX to UT Austin; ~$40 daily using a 2015 Honda Civic ROUND TRIP
Room & Board
$11,456
Amount of time/money YOUR potential major would take to complete
Economics; $4,673 a semester; $37,384 in 4 years
Southern Methodist University (Private 4-year)
Tuition & Fees
$48,190
Travel costs to and from the college to your hometown, and everyday transportation costs
Dart: $80 a month - Monthly Local Passes
Car: 23 miles from Coppell, TX to SMU; ~$4 daily using a 2015 Honda Civic ROUND TRIP
Room & Board
$11,120/yr
Amount of time/money YOUR potential major would take to complete
- Economics; $48,190 a year; $192,760 in 4 years
North Lake College (Community)
Tuition & Fees
In-state: $3,015
Out-of-state: $4695
Travel costs to and from the college to your hometown, and everyday transportation costs
Dart: $80 a month - Monthly Local Passes
Car: 9 miles from Coppell, TX to North Lake College; ~$2 daily using a 2015 Honda Civic ROUND TRIP
Room & Board
N/A
Amount of time/money YOUR potential major would take to complete
$3,015 a semester; $12,060 in 2 years
Princeton University (Private 4-year / Out-of-state)
Tuition & Fees
$45,150
Travel costs to and from the college to your hometown, and everyday transportation costs
Plane: $254 from Dallas/Fort Worth to Newark, New Jersey ONE-WAY
Room & Board
$14,720/yr
Amount of time/money YOUR potential major would take to complete
Economics; $45,150 a year; $180,600 in 4 years
Final Analysis
For those seeking a four year degree, UT Austin is the cheapest university. However, private universities offer significant benefits such as smaller class sizes (Princeton has a student to faculty ratio of 6:1 while UT Austin has a student to faculty ratio of 18:1), better name recognition, and better job placement.
In addition, Princeton has an average salary after 10 years of $137,000. UT has an average salary after 10 years of $97,200 and SMU has an average salary after 10 years of $93,500. (Disclaimer: These numbers can be misleading because UT and SMU offer more majors that may be less lucrative in the long run.)
For those that can afford it, Princeton is the best school to attend. If money is an issue, then UT Austin is the best choice. SMU seems to be too expensive while offering minimal benefits and Northlake College is only suitable for those seeking a 2 year degree.
How Can You Pay for College?
2. Grants - The government gives plenty of money to families who are not able to afford college.
3. The Federal Work Study program - This is a federally funded program in the United States that assists students with the costs of post-secondary education. This helps students earn financial funding through a part-time work program.
4. Merit Scholarships - Qualified and deserving students can earn financial aid by entering competitions for university sponsored scholarships or corporate scholarships.