Is It Really Worth $200,000 to Graduate from a Private University?

I don't think it is worth it at all. It is one of the biggest rip offs of our times. It was that even when you were in school. At these prices, plus living expenses, it is rediculous. But, we go on paying these prices. Did you know that prices at colleges and universities go up twice the inflation rate at a miniumum each year.

I agree that it is not worth it. But, while it may not be worth it from any rational perspective, perception differs from reality. Everybody wants the best for their children and for themselves (there is a certain cache from saying that your child goes to a Harvard, Yale or even an Emory that cannot be matched by saying that your child goes to UMass or UofGeorgia). Costs are constantly rising greater than inflation but the supply and demand equations are still out of balance (the numbers of qualified kids applying to these programs completely outstrips supply).

I will write shortly about the process of trying to get my daughter into preschool in Manhattan and the costs of these schools - and it makes the entire private college education thing looks rational and financially worthwhile.

Not worth it IMHO. I know people from State schools that do just as well as the graduates from private schools, if not better. In the South and West, State schools are perceived as good if not better than private schools. Of course, they're getting expensive also.

I think middle class enrollment from these schools will start to drop as more and more people do the analysis.

For your undergraduate degree, it is important to go to one of the better state school and get good grades. For professional schools, it is worth shelling out the big bucks but only if you can get into a Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia or Chicago. Otherwise, that too, is a waste of money.

@RobMinton Where are your statistics to back up your assertion. The only data I see is that the return for private school education is very low. Lower than most of the rates shown on this site.

I know many, many people who went to fancy, expensive liberal arts schools to get degrees in English, Psychology, Child Development, etc. and their lucky to be making $45,000 a year. I think they could be doing just as well if they had gone to a less expensive state school, or even a two year college.

Interesting discussion. I'd have to agree that the cost of private education has become prohibitive to most families. The private schools are going to have to justify their increases and its value in the future or face more questions like the ones posed in this article.

My son got into very prestigious liberal arts colleges and Dartmouth. He is going to U Mass honors program because we don't have the $ and he doesn't want well over $100,000 worth of debt. I know lots of families who put leans on their homes and max out their credit to put a prestigious bumper sticker on their car. I think it is all propaganda by the private colleges. If they can get parents to pay almost a 1/4 mil to educate their child good for them, after all it is a money making business.

Yes, the price is rediculous, but in todays age, financial aid is incredible at private schools for students who wouldnt be able to afford it otherwise. I applied to 6 different schools and only SMU was a private school. I ended up going to SMU because thats what cost me the LEAST. Not UT, A&M, or any other school could have given me the scholarships and grants I have now. I agree the sticker price on a private university is rediculous, but that's where the endowments are also. Just a thought.

It's RIDICULOUS, not rediculous!