I really enjoy conversations around costs of College/Universities. I come at this question from the perspective of a tenured faculty member at a small Liberal Arts University (my spouse if also a tenured faculty member). Additionally our oldest is a senior in HS and doing the rounds of applications.
A few observations from my 18 years as a faculty member, attending a small liberal arts undergrad and then a top R1 grad school in my field:
In terms of cost - total net cost is all that matters, generally you can ignore sticker prices. This is a helpful resource for basic data: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
Goals. This appears too basic, or obvious a question but I frequently encounter otherwise bright young adults who are not sure why they are in college. Sometimes this is ok. Discerning your career, particular interests, values, etc. takes time for many. Conversations around aims, values, and the life one wishes to have are important before, during, and after college.
If graduate school is a goal, smaller schools often have distinct advantages over larger places but fewer resources. Regardless, for graduate school ranking/reputation networking, job placement rates in your field/discipline, starting salaries actually have good predictive value. For undergraduate degree this matters far, far less. It makes a difference, especially in the first 3 years after finishing undergrad but drive, grit, work ethic, and other soft skills make a difference in the long run based on my observations and experiences. Ok, you went to Princeton or Stanford for your BA - can can you do the work? Long term, this matters much, much more.
Good luck to all going through this. It's needlessly complicated. While it is a significant decision in one's life, it's just one decision of many.
Thanks, as ever, for the wonderful content, Mr. Clements.
Personally ICE resonates more than FIRE with this 48 year old. And with four children we will have to ICE regardless of how my wife and I "felt" about our jobs or work.
As a potential alternative to FIRE I suspect this will resonant with many. Further, your key insight that our future selves are unknown to us in the present deserves real reflection.
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Thanks for sharing. That's a great story and an important lesson as well.
Post: $92,000 a year is quite an investment. The ROI is real, but maybe not.
Link to comment from December 13, 2025
I really enjoy conversations around costs of College/Universities. I come at this question from the perspective of a tenured faculty member at a small Liberal Arts University (my spouse if also a tenured faculty member). Additionally our oldest is a senior in HS and doing the rounds of applications. A few observations from my 18 years as a faculty member, attending a small liberal arts undergrad and then a top R1 grad school in my field:
Post: $92,000 a year is quite an investment. The ROI is real, but maybe not.
Link to comment from December 13, 2025
Thanks, as ever, for the wonderful content, Mr. Clements. Personally ICE resonates more than FIRE with this 48 year old. And with four children we will have to ICE regardless of how my wife and I "felt" about our jobs or work. As a potential alternative to FIRE I suspect this will resonant with many. Further, your key insight that our future selves are unknown to us in the present deserves real reflection.
Post: Fire Meets Ice
Link to comment from February 11, 2024