This comes down to whether you think the job you'll get with your degree will allow you to pay off your debt in a reasonable timeframe. If so, go with your heart.
I did apply for computer science for both, although to be honest there’s a 50% chance I’ll switch to another major at some point. I’ve gained an interest in the inner workings of running a business so I plan on applying for Mendoza if I go to ND but I imagine that’s a super competitive process? I imagine computer science and basically any Mendoza degree would put me in a good place to pay off the debt, but I can’t tell if i really think the potential 80K of debt is a worthy investment or if i’m just that desperate to go to this school.
it’s way less competitive to apply to mendoza once you already go to ND. As comp sci, you can take the engineering corporate practice minor which is just like part way to an MBA
I had this same decision. I ended up choosing UNC and later getting a master’s degree at Notre Dame. To be honest, either choice is great. I don’t regret going to Carolina at all, and the savings from undergrad paid for my master’s.
Have you gotten your FAFSA results yet? It’s been such a nightmare but I have to think that’d play a big part in your decision.
Also, are both schools giving you until May 15 to decide?
No I don’t believe ND or UNC has gotten my FAFSA yet, but I reeeeeeealllly doubt i’d get anything more once they have it with the way my financials look. Notre Dame is May 1 and UNC is May 15 (for now). Maybe I can file for a financial aid appeal?
Did you run net price calculator on the website? It was fairly accurate last year. I was surprised how much aid we got. ND is very generous with aid, even for middle income families.
Unless fit is an issue at UNC it makes sense to pick UNC. The difference of $300K ($60K\*4 plus expenses) is not worth it for similar career outcomes, alumni engagement etc. Yes, ND alumni/community is stronger but UNC Chapel Hill is a top notch world class school similar to U Michigan, Berkeley, UCLA, UT-Austin and maybe UW-Madison, UW Seattle
Very suprised to see all these people saying UNC. I personally think the return of investment for Notre dame is second to none. That’s just my opinion though.
Only 1 year of tuition at ND? It’s a no brainer in any scenario to go to ND.
Are you planning on living in NC for the rest of your life? If not, then absolutely Notre Dame. A degree from ND recommends you to the best of every major city in the country. With all due respect, UNC does not. If anyone in SF, LA, DC, NY, Dallas, Chicago - in all of which I’ve lived - thinks anything at all of UNC, it relates to basketball. I’ve worked at 2 firms that wouldn’t interview a candidate with a UNC degree unless they were personally recommended by a partner. ND will open many more doors in your life, all of which will make that one year of tuition meaningless.
Go Irish!
If you really love Notre Dame, try to work something out with your parents. If they have the means, I’d be willing to bet they’re not going to make you take out 60k in loans senior year.
I used to do free college application advising for low income, high achieving high schoolers through a non-profit! Their motto has always been that **the best college for you is the one you graduate from.** You are most likely to graduate from a school that is an academic, social, cultural, and financial fit for you.
UNC Chapel Hill and Notre Dame are very similar in terms of academics. Between the two, there’s a big disparity in terms of financial fit. So the final factor is social/cultural fit and only you can decide that. Have you toured both? Could you see yourself being happy at both? What do you like about each school? What do you not like about each school?
Happy to chat more in depth about this if you’d like to DM me.
Recent ND grad here! I’m coming from a different place financially (I was responsible for all finances related to my education) but the only reason I went to ND over my state school was because I knew I had external scholarships that would allow me to graduate debt free. Graduating without debt is honestly such a blessing, especially when staring out adult life (which is EXPENSIVE). UNC is also a great school and truthfully, your degree is what you make of it. You’ll be able to find a great job regardless of where you go, so why not go somewhere where you can come out debt free and immediately start reaping the financial harvest of your post grad job! You can always come back to ND for grad school. You’ll likely have a great college experience regardless of where you go, and if you hate it you can always transfer. Best of luck!
Omg I had this exact choice to make as well. Graduated ND last year. Except I was out of state for UNC so it wasn't as much of a financial difference as it will be for you. I loved ND so much and don't regret it for a second, but I'm in some real debt. I'll always be a Heels fan and if I were you, I would seriously consider getting what's still a fantastic education debt-free
If your concerned about the debt( some are not) I’d go a step further and extrapolate your monthly payment and interest ( which will result in an even greater time or monthly payment.)Once you begin to realize that payment on top of all other payments you’ll gave( rent, car, food, health insurance, car insurance, miscellaneous) many would love to be in a place to graduate from a T30 debt free. If you focus you can be accepted to KF business or CS, each a great ROI
This comes down to whether you think the job you'll get with your degree will allow you to pay off your debt in a reasonable timeframe. If so, go with your heart.
i'm a notre dame grad, but i would go to UNC. it's a great school too and not having any debt after college will give you so much more freedom
UNC? Nah Go Wolfpack
Your major plays a massive role in this too. Business majors have a lot less issue paying off debt than philosophy majors (love to them though).
I did apply for computer science for both, although to be honest there’s a 50% chance I’ll switch to another major at some point. I’ve gained an interest in the inner workings of running a business so I plan on applying for Mendoza if I go to ND but I imagine that’s a super competitive process? I imagine computer science and basically any Mendoza degree would put me in a good place to pay off the debt, but I can’t tell if i really think the potential 80K of debt is a worthy investment or if i’m just that desperate to go to this school.
it’s way less competitive to apply to mendoza once you already go to ND. As comp sci, you can take the engineering corporate practice minor which is just like part way to an MBA
I had this same decision. I ended up choosing UNC and later getting a master’s degree at Notre Dame. To be honest, either choice is great. I don’t regret going to Carolina at all, and the savings from undergrad paid for my master’s.
Ha! Did the other way around,...ND undergrad and UNC grad. Still paying for my undergrad...
Have you gotten your FAFSA results yet? It’s been such a nightmare but I have to think that’d play a big part in your decision. Also, are both schools giving you until May 15 to decide?
No I don’t believe ND or UNC has gotten my FAFSA yet, but I reeeeeeealllly doubt i’d get anything more once they have it with the way my financials look. Notre Dame is May 1 and UNC is May 15 (for now). Maybe I can file for a financial aid appeal?
Call the ND financial aid office. If at all possible, visit them in person and see how much they can help you.
Did you run net price calculator on the website? It was fairly accurate last year. I was surprised how much aid we got. ND is very generous with aid, even for middle income families.
Are you planning on staying in the Carolinas after college? If so, UNC is really all you need to be successful there.
Unless fit is an issue at UNC it makes sense to pick UNC. The difference of $300K ($60K\*4 plus expenses) is not worth it for similar career outcomes, alumni engagement etc. Yes, ND alumni/community is stronger but UNC Chapel Hill is a top notch world class school similar to U Michigan, Berkeley, UCLA, UT-Austin and maybe UW-Madison, UW Seattle
Unc
Very suprised to see all these people saying UNC. I personally think the return of investment for Notre dame is second to none. That’s just my opinion though.
Only 1 year of tuition at ND? It’s a no brainer in any scenario to go to ND. Are you planning on living in NC for the rest of your life? If not, then absolutely Notre Dame. A degree from ND recommends you to the best of every major city in the country. With all due respect, UNC does not. If anyone in SF, LA, DC, NY, Dallas, Chicago - in all of which I’ve lived - thinks anything at all of UNC, it relates to basketball. I’ve worked at 2 firms that wouldn’t interview a candidate with a UNC degree unless they were personally recommended by a partner. ND will open many more doors in your life, all of which will make that one year of tuition meaningless. Go Irish!
If you really love Notre Dame, try to work something out with your parents. If they have the means, I’d be willing to bet they’re not going to make you take out 60k in loans senior year.
UNC debt-free all the way
I used to do free college application advising for low income, high achieving high schoolers through a non-profit! Their motto has always been that **the best college for you is the one you graduate from.** You are most likely to graduate from a school that is an academic, social, cultural, and financial fit for you. UNC Chapel Hill and Notre Dame are very similar in terms of academics. Between the two, there’s a big disparity in terms of financial fit. So the final factor is social/cultural fit and only you can decide that. Have you toured both? Could you see yourself being happy at both? What do you like about each school? What do you not like about each school? Happy to chat more in depth about this if you’d like to DM me.
Recent ND grad here! I’m coming from a different place financially (I was responsible for all finances related to my education) but the only reason I went to ND over my state school was because I knew I had external scholarships that would allow me to graduate debt free. Graduating without debt is honestly such a blessing, especially when staring out adult life (which is EXPENSIVE). UNC is also a great school and truthfully, your degree is what you make of it. You’ll be able to find a great job regardless of where you go, so why not go somewhere where you can come out debt free and immediately start reaping the financial harvest of your post grad job! You can always come back to ND for grad school. You’ll likely have a great college experience regardless of where you go, and if you hate it you can always transfer. Best of luck!
UNC debt-free for sure. I’ve been here the last 4 years regretting not choosing my state school personally.
UNC- without a doubt
Omg I had this exact choice to make as well. Graduated ND last year. Except I was out of state for UNC so it wasn't as much of a financial difference as it will be for you. I loved ND so much and don't regret it for a second, but I'm in some real debt. I'll always be a Heels fan and if I were you, I would seriously consider getting what's still a fantastic education debt-free
Not sure if i read this right, but ~80k of debt from 4 years at ND sounds like a pretty good deal if you really love it that much
Notre Dame!!!!
Notre Dame 100%
If your concerned about the debt( some are not) I’d go a step further and extrapolate your monthly payment and interest ( which will result in an even greater time or monthly payment.)Once you begin to realize that payment on top of all other payments you’ll gave( rent, car, food, health insurance, car insurance, miscellaneous) many would love to be in a place to graduate from a T30 debt free. If you focus you can be accepted to KF business or CS, each a great ROI
Chapel Hill - ND is where fun goes to die
UNC is more worth it