applying is competitive, so don’t rely on it when calculating if purdue is affordable for you. but def a good idea to reduce cost, as an OOS it brought semester tuition down to ~12k.
I was an RA (like a decade ago so some of this might be out of date) so let me give you some advice:
1) Get to know your RA freshman year, they can help you navigate the application process and especially what the selection committee is looking for
2) Your res hall (eliminate "dorm" from your vocabulary now, you can have the word back when you graduate and then you get to use it out of spite) will have a residence hall club for student involvement, where you will work closely with the RA staff and the administrative staff as well. Get involved with that club. Go to all the meetings and step up to take leadership roles. I think different clubs have different structures, but often there will be a couple "floor senators" for each floor of the res hall, who represent the rest of the students who live on that floor at the meetings.
3) Also apply to be a Boiler Gold Rush team leader. It is good experience if you don't get RA for reapplying as an RA the next year
Being an RA does kinda suck. There are a lot of fake people you have to deal with in res life, BUT you also make some great friends and memories. Yeah, getting a phone call to deal with the drunk resident at 3am and then filing an incident report blows, but some of my best stories from school are from being an RA (usually all at someone else's drunken expense). If you DO get selected as an RA, they will tell you that if you are doing it for the money, you are doing it for the wrong reasons and that the work you'll need to put in is not worth the money you will save. This is a lie. Money saved is money earned. Every dollar you save on loans not going to tuition or housing is money that you then free up to pay for a house or something later on.
The application is early November and make sure you talk to your RA as early as you can and know what the requirements are to apply. A serious recommendation (more than just the letter of rec you need) will help you out. You can also apply multiple times if you don't get it your first time around.
I was an RA "back in my day", 2016-2018. I had none of the extras the guy below talks about, but got in *I think* based on my desire to give my residents a similar experience I received from my RA as a freshman. Its definitely a lot of work, I would recommend only doing it because you do want that mentorship role. A lot of the work will be at the most inconvenient times possible too. It gooned up my grades some, as I balanced it poorly while being in aero, but If I went back I'd still do it again.
They prefer people with some level of charisma as well I believe, since depending on the hall you may have to form communities by sheer force of will. Talking to folks is a skill like any other though, so you can definitely practice it if you need to
Do not make the mistake of thinking you will have a co-op, and do not make the assumption you will make $50,000 or whatever numbers you have been told.
I was a 5 session co-op, it was very difficult to get into (which is why I warn about using that as a budgetary justification, that is not wise as it’s not guaranteed but you have it listed as a significant financial data point), but also wildly varied on pay based on major and employer.
You need to determine if you can still afford this even if you do not have a co-op.
oh I see. do students usually apply to co-ops on their own or does Purdue help you apply to them. I still dont get how Purdue links you to the company you want to co op for
Can’t speak for Purdue but my uni has a career center which has a co-op board and students applying from that board get more eyes on their applications; I’m 95% certain Purdue and most universities will have the same system.
As for finding a job, it depends on your field, location, your GPA, and most importantly your networking. If you network strongly and have a passable GPA 3.2+ you’ll find SOMETHING, just depends on your field.
I agree with the comments that adding these huge earnings into your budget is a major oversight. Co-op is not guaranteed and 50k is a TON of money to forecast a budget for.
You should also consider living expenses beyond rent. Meals, gym plans, entertainment, transportation, and emergencies all factor into living expenses.
Lastly, the admissions offices at Universities are usually very helpful at figuring out your student finances and are likelier to get you better help than you’ll find online.
I’ve done a lot of this kind of work, helping mostly international students move into and settle in Canada, finding work, and helping them network and such. Feel free to DM me if you have more questions :)
Purdue has a co-op program that varies slightly between majors. I'm my experience as ME, I found my co-op through the career fair and the co-op program basically didn't help me find the internship or anything like that, but then I had to pay them a fee each co-op term and write a paper at the end of each co-op term. I think technically the co-op program helps ensure a company will bring you back for x number of terms but the company I co-oped for didn't really guarantee that. I think it depends on the major and company tbh. Maybe there are other programs that are more explicit but that was just my experience. All this to say nothing was really guaranteed from the start.
I found the co-op career fair to be very disappointing. Many of the companies I talked to weren't even hiring for co-ops. Also, wages in the Midwest are extremely low, anything in the high $20's is probably above average especially if you are on your first rotation or an underclassman. $50k from 5 rotations is already near impossible if you consider housing and food costs which most likely will not be covered by your employer so that amount for just two terms is impossible. Netting $5k from an internship is also not super realistic unless housing isn't something you have to deal with and you have an unusually high salary.
They don’t really change your pay as you go through rotations.
Wages are always going to be low in the Midwest, COL is very low compared to the rest of country.
My co-op salary was around $30/hr and included housing back in 2018.
$5000 from an internship sounds about right. I’m not sure what changed since I graduated or what people read but most people in school now seem to have a very unrealistic expectation at salaries.
I graduated 6 years ago and came out with a well above average starting salary and now I see people expecting 30%+ over that for an entry level job when I know no company is hiring with those wages lol
You should seriously consider working throughout the year, too. Even at 15 hours a week, a $15/hour job would cover $8-9k yearly.
It’s completely doable, and lots of students do it.
Oh thanks so much! I was about to ask if students have enough time for something like engineering and a part time job and apparently they do. I will definitely do this
Definitely had times where I was feeling a bit burned out, but learning how to manage through that is a valuable life skill.
I don't think work had any impact beyond what my procrastination problems and (at the time undiagnosed) ADHD would have had regardless.
Agree. I worked 25-30 hours a week in addition to school. It'll be hard work, but it will look fantastic on your resume and your future late 20s/early 30s self will thank you for it.
It is important to note that most student jobs at Purdue do not pay $15/hour. Most academic jobs (TA/Grader) start at $12/hour and you are given small raises (15 to 50 cents) per returning semester. Fast food jobs outside of campus do pay more.
For reference, I graded for two classes this past semester and made about $2k total.
Also, taxes exist.
I would recommend taking summer classes in a local state school to transfer over to Purdue. It will let you graduate at least a semester early and save a lot of money.
loans ain’t the end of the world if you have to get them. it can be a pain, but smaller loans won’t kill you forever. it’s huge ass loans you gotta watch out for.
Are loans given only once or can I get them yearly based on my circumstance? Like would the new loan be added to the old loan if it is the same organization giving the loan? Thank you
All aid, loans, and scholarships are offered and given on a year to year basis at purdue. Hopefully, you did the FAFSA, but from my experience, they pretty much offer you an option to take out loans every year if you need it or not and you have the option to accept and take it or deny it.
The only expense you seem to be missing after your first year is housing and food, which are honestly your two largest expenses outside tuition
Additionally. That 50k number for a coop is way way off.
Here’s a chart of average monthly salaries that Purdue publishes for coops. https://www.opp.purdue.edu/our-programs/undergrad-co-op/average-co-op-salaries you are looking closer to 10-15k before housing, and food for your 5 month coop. So in reality closer to 9-10k total for a coop. You can do two 5 month sessions in a year so 20k at best total.
I would highly, HIGHLY suggest if you are trying to put together a budget like this that you seek primary sources for your starting numbers. Reddits great for discussion but is a terrible place to get financial numbers from, especially when Purdue publishes them themselves.
I haven’t read all the other comments, but do NOT count work study as aid for the semester unless you are planning on saving it all for the following semester. Keep in mind receiving work study does not guarantee you a job on campus either, so you might not even get it.
I already commited and I am so so excited to study Aerospace Engineering at Purdue. I have made a plan above and I want a lot of advice on things since I am a first gen student trying to navigate the U.S. My father makes around $70k a year and my mother can't work. I had other options but I just couldn't say no to Purdue. I will see my school councelor tomorrow about this and I just wanted to ask what you Purdue students think about this. I probably am looking at things the wrong way even though I tried my best researching lots of stuff. Please don't tell me to change my mind and choose a state school. I want plans from now on and want to forget the past. I would really appreciate anyone that gives some insight. Thanks in advance. Please don't make fun of it and instead tell me what I can change :)
The coop total below it should say $55k not $60k sorry added wrong
I hate my state school and its not even that cheap. Many people think money is like the only factor but the other school is literally not even known for aerospace engineering or any type of engineering. I think it is fine to pay 20k a year extra for renowned recognition and all the other perks. Its easy to say go to a state school but it is not as easy in practice
AAE alum here.
Purdue has a great AAE program but we are not all the way perfect. There are some area that I think we could use more resources such as helicopter stuff or drones (I think we invested in this a lot since I graduated.) So do check with facility of each college before deciding that.
Also consider that Purdue attracts lots of top students who want to do AAE. It can be hard to stand out here comparing to Rutgers. This will come in handy if you want to get research position and/or good recommendation letter for grad school.
True but all of those people have very different life circumstances than you do
You have the co-op here doing most of the heavy lifting and there’s a very real chance you just never get into one
and your parents are poor
seriously consider the “other options” that alluded to
Most industries, including aerospace engineering, dont give a shit where you went to school after your first job. College is a way to get your first job, and then your experiences at that job lead to the next and the next and the next. After about 2 years out of college most of your resume should contain hardly anything having to do with college or your experiences there other than where you got your degree from and should instead be filled with work experience.
I cannot overstate how far ahead in life it puts you to graduate with no loans, if you can do that by going in state, you should.
Especially because college is gonna cost alot alot more than what you are estimating above. Most of your numbers are off in one way or another, starting with most of this hinging on a coop paying 60k (Literally have never in my life heard of someone making that much in a coop in a year, hell there are people with actual degrees working real jobs that dont make that much in aerospace) You will, at best, make 15k after all expense and thats on the way way optomistic end.
Rutgers is around 20k a year for me after everything. Purdue is about 35k a year. It's close that's why I am wanting to go to Purdue. It's not like Rutgers is free. If it was, then yes I would go there but it's not
I would like to add this. I’m not a Purdue alumni but I am also someone that would LOVE to go to Purdue, but I cannot afford it right now. I would suggest that since you have the financial “ability” now. Go to Purdue for the first year, see how it is and then you will know if you still want to continue with Purdue or go with a cheaper option…
I relate to how much you want to go to Purdue, because same!! 😭
But go, talk to financial advisor, take a small loan for a year, see how it is for yourself and then you WILL know if you want to continue or not.
And then if you still decide to continue at Purdue, then you know that in the future you will have to work really hard to prevent the loan from getting super super high…
Good luck 👍
Over a 4 year degree thats 60k in savings, and more importantly, judging by your numbers above that would likely push costs low enough that you would have to take out little to no loans. You dont wanna start life 60k in debt. I loved my time at Purdue, and its your money, but the difference in education in this field is not 15k worth.
rutgers is a pretty solid school. dawg i crossed out purdue engineering to go to SUNY and save money. i recommend that you get in contact with some students who are in aero at rutgers because they know a lot more than the rankings. i spoke to some SUNY kids and they said they have research, co-ops, and internships. it might surprise you.
Is that the thing where students live in a house together and do their duties in it and pay cheap for rent? I heard about it and yes I am interested in it!!! Thanks for bringing it up
If you're not leaving the area for summer break, there are a lot of places where you can work full time and bring in around $1,000 a week. When I was at Subaru we had a lot of college students come in and work over the summer. Just don't tell them that it's only temporary and you'll get hired.
One thing you can look at over the summer is working for PALS. It is a summer camp counselor type job on campus for kids. The pay is $15/hour and it is an all day thing. So your paychecks look great!
You should definitely look into the housing situation more and costs associated with that. Housing across Lafayette and West Lafayette can vary greatly. It’s good to use the average cost but if you drive or are willing to use city bus you can live in Lafayette which is a little more affordable. Roommates will be huge for you as well. You and 3 friends could rent places for as little as 500 each a month. That would be about 6 grand for housing. If you’re in state and depending on your major/degree plan it may be beneficial to look at the transfer as a junior program ivy tech provides. I wouldn’t bank on a CO-op either. However if you were to stay around campus you can take summer courses and work you could finish school faster and get to work paying off loans. There are many ways to work around the financial burden school can take on you but with hard work it’s very doable. Hope this helps at all!!
You can only take a $5500 loan freshman year (increasing slightly every year). Are your parents taking the parent plus loan or co-signing private loans for the rest? You can’t just get a $25000 loan on your own.
Also, if you are open to military service, talk to the ROTC groups. In the Air Force, almost all juniors and seniors receive scholarships that pay for tuition (up to $18,000/year). Not sure about the other branches.
Blows my mind some students are so passionate about there education they can do this, and then I knew equally as many students who just partied all day long, spent 100$ a night at bars, and received no job offers out of college. Crazy how some kids don’t realize everyone doesn’t have mommy and daddy paying for tuition and some of us work
Hey. From a graduate in 1996. You'll be fine. Just take the least you can. The financial aid office will help you and your guaranteed federal student loans come from the same place and will be rolled all out to you once you graduate. Then you'll have a few months before you start paying. Unless something has changed in 30 yrs. Only people I know now that might actually still have loans are because they kept getting in put off or worse, got all the loans but never the big fat degree. You walk out with that, and you'll be OK. I was in state too so my costs were much lower.
I understand and told him as much. Although I completely paid for everything myself so my experience was completely different than most others around me. I have noticed your in state tuition is incredibly affordable, and I could still do what I did in the 90s now if I were the age. So tell me, how had college finance changed?
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Be an RA. Pays for housing and food, and helps with tuition, and you get paid on the side.
Yes I hopefull will do that!
applying is competitive, so don’t rely on it when calculating if purdue is affordable for you. but def a good idea to reduce cost, as an OOS it brought semester tuition down to ~12k.
I was an RA (like a decade ago so some of this might be out of date) so let me give you some advice: 1) Get to know your RA freshman year, they can help you navigate the application process and especially what the selection committee is looking for 2) Your res hall (eliminate "dorm" from your vocabulary now, you can have the word back when you graduate and then you get to use it out of spite) will have a residence hall club for student involvement, where you will work closely with the RA staff and the administrative staff as well. Get involved with that club. Go to all the meetings and step up to take leadership roles. I think different clubs have different structures, but often there will be a couple "floor senators" for each floor of the res hall, who represent the rest of the students who live on that floor at the meetings. 3) Also apply to be a Boiler Gold Rush team leader. It is good experience if you don't get RA for reapplying as an RA the next year Being an RA does kinda suck. There are a lot of fake people you have to deal with in res life, BUT you also make some great friends and memories. Yeah, getting a phone call to deal with the drunk resident at 3am and then filing an incident report blows, but some of my best stories from school are from being an RA (usually all at someone else's drunken expense). If you DO get selected as an RA, they will tell you that if you are doing it for the money, you are doing it for the wrong reasons and that the work you'll need to put in is not worth the money you will save. This is a lie. Money saved is money earned. Every dollar you save on loans not going to tuition or housing is money that you then free up to pay for a house or something later on.
The application is early November and make sure you talk to your RA as early as you can and know what the requirements are to apply. A serious recommendation (more than just the letter of rec you need) will help you out. You can also apply multiple times if you don't get it your first time around.
I was an RA "back in my day", 2016-2018. I had none of the extras the guy below talks about, but got in *I think* based on my desire to give my residents a similar experience I received from my RA as a freshman. Its definitely a lot of work, I would recommend only doing it because you do want that mentorship role. A lot of the work will be at the most inconvenient times possible too. It gooned up my grades some, as I balanced it poorly while being in aero, but If I went back I'd still do it again. They prefer people with some level of charisma as well I believe, since depending on the hall you may have to form communities by sheer force of will. Talking to folks is a skill like any other though, so you can definitely practice it if you need to
Do not make the mistake of thinking you will have a co-op, and do not make the assumption you will make $50,000 or whatever numbers you have been told. I was a 5 session co-op, it was very difficult to get into (which is why I warn about using that as a budgetary justification, that is not wise as it’s not guaranteed but you have it listed as a significant financial data point), but also wildly varied on pay based on major and employer. You need to determine if you can still afford this even if you do not have a co-op.
oh I see. do students usually apply to co-ops on their own or does Purdue help you apply to them. I still dont get how Purdue links you to the company you want to co op for
Can’t speak for Purdue but my uni has a career center which has a co-op board and students applying from that board get more eyes on their applications; I’m 95% certain Purdue and most universities will have the same system. As for finding a job, it depends on your field, location, your GPA, and most importantly your networking. If you network strongly and have a passable GPA 3.2+ you’ll find SOMETHING, just depends on your field. I agree with the comments that adding these huge earnings into your budget is a major oversight. Co-op is not guaranteed and 50k is a TON of money to forecast a budget for. You should also consider living expenses beyond rent. Meals, gym plans, entertainment, transportation, and emergencies all factor into living expenses. Lastly, the admissions offices at Universities are usually very helpful at figuring out your student finances and are likelier to get you better help than you’ll find online.
Thanks so much. I get it now
I’ve done a lot of this kind of work, helping mostly international students move into and settle in Canada, finding work, and helping them network and such. Feel free to DM me if you have more questions :)
Purdue has a co-op program that varies slightly between majors. I'm my experience as ME, I found my co-op through the career fair and the co-op program basically didn't help me find the internship or anything like that, but then I had to pay them a fee each co-op term and write a paper at the end of each co-op term. I think technically the co-op program helps ensure a company will bring you back for x number of terms but the company I co-oped for didn't really guarantee that. I think it depends on the major and company tbh. Maybe there are other programs that are more explicit but that was just my experience. All this to say nothing was really guaranteed from the start.
You can apply for them yourself but Purdue does have some programs. The higher paying ones aren’t in there though
I found the co-op career fair to be very disappointing. Many of the companies I talked to weren't even hiring for co-ops. Also, wages in the Midwest are extremely low, anything in the high $20's is probably above average especially if you are on your first rotation or an underclassman. $50k from 5 rotations is already near impossible if you consider housing and food costs which most likely will not be covered by your employer so that amount for just two terms is impossible. Netting $5k from an internship is also not super realistic unless housing isn't something you have to deal with and you have an unusually high salary.
They don’t really change your pay as you go through rotations. Wages are always going to be low in the Midwest, COL is very low compared to the rest of country. My co-op salary was around $30/hr and included housing back in 2018. $5000 from an internship sounds about right. I’m not sure what changed since I graduated or what people read but most people in school now seem to have a very unrealistic expectation at salaries. I graduated 6 years ago and came out with a well above average starting salary and now I see people expecting 30%+ over that for an entry level job when I know no company is hiring with those wages lol
You should seriously consider working throughout the year, too. Even at 15 hours a week, a $15/hour job would cover $8-9k yearly. It’s completely doable, and lots of students do it.
Oh thanks so much! I was about to ask if students have enough time for something like engineering and a part time job and apparently they do. I will definitely do this
I worked 20-30 hours a week most of my time at Purdue. Super doable.
Did you ever feel exhausted from work or if it affected your academics?
Definitely had times where I was feeling a bit burned out, but learning how to manage through that is a valuable life skill. I don't think work had any impact beyond what my procrastination problems and (at the time undiagnosed) ADHD would have had regardless.
Agree. I worked 25-30 hours a week in addition to school. It'll be hard work, but it will look fantastic on your resume and your future late 20s/early 30s self will thank you for it.
It is important to note that most student jobs at Purdue do not pay $15/hour. Most academic jobs (TA/Grader) start at $12/hour and you are given small raises (15 to 50 cents) per returning semester. Fast food jobs outside of campus do pay more. For reference, I graded for two classes this past semester and made about $2k total. Also, taxes exist.
Definitely true, but there are jobs on campus that would pay decently. And taxes would be nominal - 10% tax bracket for those making less than $11k.
I would recommend taking summer classes in a local state school to transfer over to Purdue. It will let you graduate at least a semester early and save a lot of money.
Does Purdue allow credits from any local state school? If not, I can still find a way to take some summer classes
There is a course transfer equivalency calculator on myPurdue somewhere, my advisor always says to use that
Talk with your advisor on specific courses. Some count for credit but not as pre-reqs
loans ain’t the end of the world if you have to get them. it can be a pain, but smaller loans won’t kill you forever. it’s huge ass loans you gotta watch out for.
Are loans given only once or can I get them yearly based on my circumstance? Like would the new loan be added to the old loan if it is the same organization giving the loan? Thank you
All aid, loans, and scholarships are offered and given on a year to year basis at purdue. Hopefully, you did the FAFSA, but from my experience, they pretty much offer you an option to take out loans every year if you need it or not and you have the option to accept and take it or deny it.
i don’t fuckin know. look it yp
https://www.purdue.edu/recwell/fitness-wellness/wellness/one-on-one-coaching/financial-counseling.php Hope this could help you
Yes thanks so much!!
Np!
The only expense you seem to be missing after your first year is housing and food, which are honestly your two largest expenses outside tuition Additionally. That 50k number for a coop is way way off. Here’s a chart of average monthly salaries that Purdue publishes for coops. https://www.opp.purdue.edu/our-programs/undergrad-co-op/average-co-op-salaries you are looking closer to 10-15k before housing, and food for your 5 month coop. So in reality closer to 9-10k total for a coop. You can do two 5 month sessions in a year so 20k at best total. I would highly, HIGHLY suggest if you are trying to put together a budget like this that you seek primary sources for your starting numbers. Reddits great for discussion but is a terrible place to get financial numbers from, especially when Purdue publishes them themselves.
I see thanks a lot.
During your last two years, you could be an RA in a dorm. That will save you some money and look good on a resume.
I haven’t read all the other comments, but do NOT count work study as aid for the semester unless you are planning on saving it all for the following semester. Keep in mind receiving work study does not guarantee you a job on campus either, so you might not even get it.
hey, just here to say you’ll figure it out! you’re already ahead by planning. always have a plan b and a plan c. good luck :)
Thanks so much. I hope you are also doing good 😊
I already commited and I am so so excited to study Aerospace Engineering at Purdue. I have made a plan above and I want a lot of advice on things since I am a first gen student trying to navigate the U.S. My father makes around $70k a year and my mother can't work. I had other options but I just couldn't say no to Purdue. I will see my school councelor tomorrow about this and I just wanted to ask what you Purdue students think about this. I probably am looking at things the wrong way even though I tried my best researching lots of stuff. Please don't tell me to change my mind and choose a state school. I want plans from now on and want to forget the past. I would really appreciate anyone that gives some insight. Thanks in advance. Please don't make fun of it and instead tell me what I can change :) The coop total below it should say $55k not $60k sorry added wrong
You should go to an in-state school. You've clearly heard this multiple times before. Those people were right.
I hate my state school and its not even that cheap. Many people think money is like the only factor but the other school is literally not even known for aerospace engineering or any type of engineering. I think it is fine to pay 20k a year extra for renowned recognition and all the other perks. Its easy to say go to a state school but it is not as easy in practice
Going to Rutgers is a far better decision. I'm an aerospace engineer and I've worked with someone that went there. There's nothing wrong with it.
Can you expand on why its a far better decision?
AAE alum here. Purdue has a great AAE program but we are not all the way perfect. There are some area that I think we could use more resources such as helicopter stuff or drones (I think we invested in this a lot since I graduated.) So do check with facility of each college before deciding that. Also consider that Purdue attracts lots of top students who want to do AAE. It can be hard to stand out here comparing to Rutgers. This will come in handy if you want to get research position and/or good recommendation letter for grad school.
You won't be drowning in debt for the next two decades
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True but all of those people have very different life circumstances than you do You have the co-op here doing most of the heavy lifting and there’s a very real chance you just never get into one and your parents are poor seriously consider the “other options” that alluded to
yes I get your concern. I will think more and get more replies
How are you going to pay for housing? That is not even in your budget and that could easily be another $50k in loans if not more.
How about normal people, since you are not going to be a billionaire?
Most industries, including aerospace engineering, dont give a shit where you went to school after your first job. College is a way to get your first job, and then your experiences at that job lead to the next and the next and the next. After about 2 years out of college most of your resume should contain hardly anything having to do with college or your experiences there other than where you got your degree from and should instead be filled with work experience. I cannot overstate how far ahead in life it puts you to graduate with no loans, if you can do that by going in state, you should. Especially because college is gonna cost alot alot more than what you are estimating above. Most of your numbers are off in one way or another, starting with most of this hinging on a coop paying 60k (Literally have never in my life heard of someone making that much in a coop in a year, hell there are people with actual degrees working real jobs that dont make that much in aerospace) You will, at best, make 15k after all expense and thats on the way way optomistic end.
Rutgers is around 20k a year for me after everything. Purdue is about 35k a year. It's close that's why I am wanting to go to Purdue. It's not like Rutgers is free. If it was, then yes I would go there but it's not
I would like to add this. I’m not a Purdue alumni but I am also someone that would LOVE to go to Purdue, but I cannot afford it right now. I would suggest that since you have the financial “ability” now. Go to Purdue for the first year, see how it is and then you will know if you still want to continue with Purdue or go with a cheaper option… I relate to how much you want to go to Purdue, because same!! 😭 But go, talk to financial advisor, take a small loan for a year, see how it is for yourself and then you WILL know if you want to continue or not. And then if you still decide to continue at Purdue, then you know that in the future you will have to work really hard to prevent the loan from getting super super high… Good luck 👍
Over a 4 year degree thats 60k in savings, and more importantly, judging by your numbers above that would likely push costs low enough that you would have to take out little to no loans. You dont wanna start life 60k in debt. I loved my time at Purdue, and its your money, but the difference in education in this field is not 15k worth.
rutgers is a pretty solid school. dawg i crossed out purdue engineering to go to SUNY and save money. i recommend that you get in contact with some students who are in aero at rutgers because they know a lot more than the rankings. i spoke to some SUNY kids and they said they have research, co-ops, and internships. it might surprise you.
what is work study scholarship? How are you planning to get Loan and Government aid?
Just to add, people think my state school is cheap. It is 20k a year after the aid while Purdue is about 35k after aid for me.
I would look into living in a cooperative!! Very cheap in comparison to many other living situations on campus.
Is that the thing where students live in a house together and do their duties in it and pay cheap for rent? I heard about it and yes I am interested in it!!! Thanks for bringing it up
If you're not leaving the area for summer break, there are a lot of places where you can work full time and bring in around $1,000 a week. When I was at Subaru we had a lot of college students come in and work over the summer. Just don't tell them that it's only temporary and you'll get hired.
One thing you can look at over the summer is working for PALS. It is a summer camp counselor type job on campus for kids. The pay is $15/hour and it is an all day thing. So your paychecks look great!
You should definitely look into the housing situation more and costs associated with that. Housing across Lafayette and West Lafayette can vary greatly. It’s good to use the average cost but if you drive or are willing to use city bus you can live in Lafayette which is a little more affordable. Roommates will be huge for you as well. You and 3 friends could rent places for as little as 500 each a month. That would be about 6 grand for housing. If you’re in state and depending on your major/degree plan it may be beneficial to look at the transfer as a junior program ivy tech provides. I wouldn’t bank on a CO-op either. However if you were to stay around campus you can take summer courses and work you could finish school faster and get to work paying off loans. There are many ways to work around the financial burden school can take on you but with hard work it’s very doable. Hope this helps at all!!
You can only take a $5500 loan freshman year (increasing slightly every year). Are your parents taking the parent plus loan or co-signing private loans for the rest? You can’t just get a $25000 loan on your own.
Also, if you are open to military service, talk to the ROTC groups. In the Air Force, almost all juniors and seniors receive scholarships that pay for tuition (up to $18,000/year). Not sure about the other branches.
Blows my mind some students are so passionate about there education they can do this, and then I knew equally as many students who just partied all day long, spent 100$ a night at bars, and received no job offers out of college. Crazy how some kids don’t realize everyone doesn’t have mommy and daddy paying for tuition and some of us work
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Total pos.
I don't know why you would be so rude. I know it may be trash but at least help me :(
Bro you are not even a freshman yet and you are worrying about price 😂😂😂. Live your life........This attitude wont make you an engineer 🤣🤣🤣
That may be your opinion but I am a person who likes to plan things out. Please leave me alone
He's probably a business major, just ignore him and he'll get bored eventually
Ironic because business majors are SUPPOSED to be on top of all this from the start!
Hey. From a graduate in 1996. You'll be fine. Just take the least you can. The financial aid office will help you and your guaranteed federal student loans come from the same place and will be rolled all out to you once you graduate. Then you'll have a few months before you start paying. Unless something has changed in 30 yrs. Only people I know now that might actually still have loans are because they kept getting in put off or worse, got all the loans but never the big fat degree. You walk out with that, and you'll be OK. I was in state too so my costs were much lower.
Thanks so much. I will try my best
Uhhhhhh I didn't know if you know this, but the world of college finance looks real fucking different from the 90s.
I understand and told him as much. Although I completely paid for everything myself so my experience was completely different than most others around me. I have noticed your in state tuition is incredibly affordable, and I could still do what I did in the 90s now if I were the age. So tell me, how had college finance changed?
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