Vanderbilt – Highest ranked school I applied to. Received $60k scholarship and can live at home, saving room and board costs. Currently an undergraduate here. Estimated debt (most of which is tuition): $75,000-$85,000.
Washington University in St. Louis – Surprisingly generous $114k scholarship at a school ranked only slightly below Vanderbilt. Wouldn’t have to live with parents. Estimated debt (most of which is living expenses): $72,000.
Indiana – Highest ranked school to offer full-tuition scholarship, with no stipulations. Will visit soon. Estimated debt (living expenses, fees, books): $60,000.
Washington & Lee – Loved its small size and rural setting when I visited. Farthest from my target market. Full-tuition scholarship with 3.25 GPA stipulation, which is about top 60%. Estimated debt (living expenses, fees, books): $60,000.
University of Alabama – The only school to offer full tuition plus $2k annual stipend. Loved the people when I visited. Estimated debt (living expenses, fees, books): $50,000.
Belmont – The only school where I could graduate totally debt-free. New law school, opening this fall in my target market of Nashville. Full-tuition scholarship; could live at home and borrow nothing. Estimated debt: $0.
Thoughts? (Feel free to vote in the poll, but I'm most interested in your comments.)
