Would you commute 40 minutes knowing you would save $22K?

[TheCowboy]

I have the opportunity to commute to a university that is 35-40 minutes away for my upcoming junior year. I completed a two-year program at a community college at 1 1/2 year rate. It cost me $11,000 to go there to get my associates degree.

I could commute to a university and save 22K off the total price if I lived at home and commuted. The total tuition for 2 years there would be $14K without room and board, for a total of $25K for a Bachelor's of Accounting degree. This does not include any scholarships I may receive from the school.

Just curious from the board's perspective, what would you do in this situation? Would you pay $22K for the college experience, or save it?

 

[WoodysGirl]

You can still have the college experience and just go home afterwards. No brainer. Save the $$$

I lived off campus my entire college tenure. Didn't miss a thing I actually wanted to participate in.

 

[TheCowboy]

You can still have the college experience and just go home afterwards. No brainer. Save the $$$

I lived off campus my entire college tenure. Didn't miss a thing I actually wanted to participate in.

I would be driving 1 hr 20 minutes to and from the college, but if I can schedule my classes for only 2-3 days per week it could work. Just trying to plan this out wisely. Thank you for the input!

 

[WoodysGirl]

I would be driving 1 hr 20 minutes to and from the college, but if I can schedule my classes for only 2-3 days per week it could work. Just trying to plan this out wisely. Thank you for the input!

I used to take the bus to school and it was an 2:30 bus ride and I took it daily for almost two years until I got a car...and then my drive was 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

I look at it like this, if you truly wanted the college experience, you make it work in the first two years of school. After that, then the focus should just be on getting out in the least amount of time.

I realize others may feel different. Good luck on whatever choice you make.

 

[viman96]

For me it would depend where I work and live. It would be a real hassle to drive 80 minutes to school and then have to drive 80 minutes back for work. Consider all the reasons you need to go to school outside of classes. Study? Lab work? Hangout with friends? Having said that $22k is a lot of money so if you can save it then you will that much further ahead when you graduate. Is the school that costs less still a good school?

 

[Nova]

Housing sounds a little expensive.

What would be the extra cost for renting an apartment and purchasing your own food? I think that may be the happy medium. Get to be in the college town, don't spend as much.

Edit: My rent for 2 years in college was around $9,600 total ($400 per month with roomies)+ $50-$60 for utilities, $30 for cable internet. Don't really remember how much I spent on food, but I can tell you it was a lot less than what I do now.

 

[TheCowboy]

I used to take the bus to school and it was an 2:30 bus ride and I took it daily for almost two years until I got a car...and then my drive was 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

I look at it like this, if you truly wanted the college experience, you make it work in the first two years of school. After that, then the focus should just be on getting out in the least amount of time.

I realize others may feel different. Good luck on whatever choice you make.

Just curious, were you living at home all 4 years?

 

[BigStar]

I worked full time while attending school and do feel I missed out on the "college experience." Only young once. Hope it works out for you!

 

[TheCowboy]

For me it would depend where I work and live. It would be a real hassle to drive 80 minutes to school and then have to drive 80 minutes back for work. Consider all the reasons you need to go to school outside of classes. Study? Lab work? Hangout with friends? Having said that $22k is a lot of money so if you can save it then you will that much further ahead when you graduate. Is the school that costs less still a good school?

It's a State University of New York, but just to clarify it is 40 minutes to school then 40 minutes to home

 

[TheCowboy]

Housing sounds a little expensive.

What would be the extra cost for renting an apartment and purchasing your own food? I think that may be the happy medium. Get to be in the college town, don't spend as much.

Edit: My rent for 2 years in college was around $9,600 total ($400 per month with roomies)+ $50-$60 for utilities, $30 for cable internet. Don't really remember how much I spent on food, but I can tell you it was a lot less than what I do now.

I worked while attending school and do feel I missed out on the "college experience." Only young once.

After these last two years I am looking to move to Texas, so I really don't mind not making friends. For 2 years, I'll probably be friends with them and not talk to them ever again.

 

[WoodysGirl]

For me it would depend where I work and live. It would be a real hassle to drive 80 minutes to school and then have to drive 80 minutes back for work. Consider all the reasons you need to go to school outside of classes. Study? Lab work? Hangout with friends? Having said that $22k is a lot of money so if you can save it then you will that much further ahead when you graduate. Is the school that costs less still a good school?

He's talking 80 minutes round trip. Living in Houston, 30 minutes is like a trip to the cornerstore. It's nothing.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Just curious, were you living at home all 4 years?

No. I moved away from home, but stayed in an apartment. I was two years into my college thing when I got a roommate. Did the roommate thing for one school year, then we went our separate ways. My last three years, I did live near my school, though. By that time I was working semi-full-time. So I was only at school for classes and whatnot, and then I would go to work.

 

[BigStar]

After these last two years I am looking to move to Texas, so I really don't mind not making friends. For 2 years, I'll probably be friends with them and not talk to them ever again.

I hear ya there (college friends) but was talking about the care free atmosphere and the lack of "life" responsiblities, etc. I also wish I used that "opportunity" to meet more young people (college girls; you don't kno how great they are until you leave school) who were not "mini adults" like myself. I sometimes look back thinking "what was the rush?" kind've thing. You sound pretty dang mature though, so trus your instincts

 

[Nova]

After these last two years I am looking to move to Texas, so I really don't mind not making friends. For 2 years, I'll probably be friends with them and not talk to them ever again.

That's how college goes

 

[BigStar]

No. I moved away from home, but stayed in an apartment. I was two years into my college thing when I got a roommate. Did the roommate thing for one school year, then we went our separate ways. My last three years, I did live near my school, though. By that time I was working semi-full-time. So I was only at school for classes and whatnot, and then I would go to work.

Dang WG, uphill both ways? Seriously though, kudos for sticking with it, etc.

 

[TheCowboy]

That's how college goes

That's what I figured. The best 4 years of people's life, followed by 20 years of hell with debt.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Dang WG, uphill both ways? Seriously though, kudos for sticking with it, etc.

All part of the grind of life... You have to start sometime. lol

 

[Nova]

That's what I figured. The best 4 years of people's life, followed by 20 years of hell with debt.

Gotcha. You're just asking for opinions, not advice. Thought you meant something else.

 

[DFWJC]

I hear ya there (college friends) but was talking about the care free atmosphere and the lack of "life" responsiblities, etc. I also wish I used that "opportunity" to meet more young people (college girls; you don't kno how great they are until you leave school) who were not "mini adults" like myself. I sometimes look back thinking "what was the rush?" kind've thing. You sound pretty dang mature though, so trus your instincts

Yeah. Later in life, most people (as in maybe 80%?) wish they had more of the college experience vs less.
Of course, if some never experienced the good side of it they don't know what they missed, so that's ok too....as in if you never had it, what's to miss?

I guess everyone's situation is different though.
In this case, it sounds like 22k is a very big deal. And if he's planning to move far away after graduating from a school or state that he'll have no allegiances too, you can see why he's considering it.

 

[Idgit]

I sort of went both ways. I could have commuted for university, but chose to live on site. Then commuted for grad school. Both were good experiences. The good news is, you probably can't go wrong. And the reality is, without knowing more about your personal financial situation, it's hard to give good advice. But if you're asking if the full college experience was worth $22k for a few years, I'd probably say that it was, in my case. Then, I went to a party school for undergraduate.