Season 2 • Episode 17
College Series: The Real Cost of Choosing the “Dream School”
How families can compare college costs, net price, graduation rates, debt and outcomes before deciding whether a dream school is worth the price.
About This Episode
The acceptance letter arrives. Your kid loves the campus. Everyone is excited. Then comes the harder question: is this school worth this price for this student? Jennifer and Julie take a numbers-first look at one of the biggest financial decisions many families will ever make.
In This Episode
- Why sticker price is only the beginning of a college-cost comparison
- How to use net price, financial aid, graduation rates and student debt together
- Why earnings and outcomes by field of study can matter more than a school’s overall reputation
- How families can separate the emotional appeal of a dream school from the financial tradeoffs
- Why every serious college contender deserves a look at its own Net Price Calculator
Cocktail of the Episode
The FAFSA Fizz
The FAFSA Fizz pairs gin, elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon and simple syrup with club soda. It is considerably more refined than most things we remember drinking in college.
Browse all Money Well Studio cocktails →Links & Resources
Keep digging
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education data on college costs, debt, graduation rates and earnings.
Visit resource →NCES College Navigator
Federal college-comparison data covering cost, aid, enrollment, admissions and completion.
Visit resource →IPEDS
Detailed higher-education data reported by colleges and universities.
Visit resource →College Board BigFuture
A college search and comparison tool for building and narrowing a school list.
Visit resource →Money Well Studio is for educational and entertainment purposes and does not provide individualized financial, tax, investment or legal advice.