Back to College Woes

[brennicksmom]

With the new year and the holidays over I thought my family could get back to reasonable spending and try to start saving again.

My husband has been back in college for 1 1/2 years. All of his classes so far have been about $700 per semester- just 1-2 classes each semester. There is only one school around here offering the next class he needs with his current pre-reqs. We went yesterday to buy his book-$263 to rent and $375 to buy it!!!! To buy on Amazon is only a bit cheaper
Then we went to financial aid to see about making payments for the class, he thought it was about $2000 for the class. WRONG $3600.00! for one class! The payments are $900.00 per month. He thinks we should pay it, I can't get him to see that we just don't have $900 to pay each month. I can't get him to understand that we would have to skip other bills to do it and risk our credit.
He is going to call credit unions to see about a short term loan-I just feel overwhelmed by the thought of it

 

[EMAW_KSU]

With the new year and the holidays over I thought my family could get back to reasonable spending and try to start saving again.

My husband has been back in college for 1 1/2 years. All of his classes so far have been about $700 per semester- just 1-2 classes each semester. There is only one school around here offering the next class he needs with his current pre-reqs. We went yesterday to buy his book-$263 to rent and $375 to buy it!!!! To buy on Amazon is only a bit cheaper
Then we went to financial aid to see about making payments for the class, he thought it was about $2000 for the class. WRONG $3600.00! for one class! The payments are $900.00 per month. He thinks we should pay it, I can't get him to see that we just don't have $900 to pay each month. I can't get him to understand that we would have to skip other bills to do it and risk our credit.
He is going to call credit unions to see about a short term loan-I just feel overwhelmed by the thought of it

That is a lot. What class is it? I went back to school at 31 but went full time and never paid that much for a 15 hour semester.

 

[brennicksmom]

It's Analytical Analysis Chemistry. One other University is offering it at less than half the price, but he would need Physical Chem 1 and 2 first there, and he doesn't need either of those classes for the job he wants to get through his company. He is going to call his company's rep today to talk to them to see how people have done it in the past. I could hardly sleep last night because I couldn't figure out how to pay for something like that. The worst part is that he just doesn't get that it isn't possible to pay $900 per month.

I have a 4 year degree and never had to pay that much either!!!

*edited because I had the wrong class*

 

[pigletto]

My husband is also in a 3.5 year program. Our tuition for an entire semester is what you are paying for that one class. Probably another thousand for books,and more for fees and parking pass. Without knowing what the class is though it's hard to give you any advice.
There isn't a chance we'd skip a class he needed. 3.5 years is already long enough for this program, the hire rate out of the program is almost 100% and it will be a huge boost to our income. So, we just do what we have to do. However, the entire reason this program is even doable for us is the paid co-op semesters between class semesters.

So, in short, if it's a class that is on the way to a larger tangible goal then I advise to find a way to get it done. If however, it's a drop in the bucket, and doesn't put him any closer to being done or job advancement I wouldn't see the point. It's the kind of situation where you need to analyze risk vs. future benefits.

 

[brennicksmom]

It would help him get the job he wants, but the thing is, right now the contract for the new job is that if he has some specific classes (which he currently has) he could take the job if an opening comes up, and he could take the class after starting the new position. This class is only offered during the same hours as the job and he could not have the job and class at the same time. They are talking about a buy out of the older employees, so that COULD be one of those jobs. He said that if a job comes up he would take it, and therefore, drop the class. What?! If he drops out on or after the day the class starts he would only get a 50% refund. The class starts Monday.
The weighing of options is so confusing. Over time it is a better wage, it would be immediately better hours.

 

[chimilady]

About 10 years ago, I paid about $3K per class, per semester. So $3600 doesn't seem unreasonable to me. Certainly not for an advanced Chem Class.

 

[brennicksmom]

Thanks for your replies. I think that the shock cam when my husband told me that the class was $295 per credit hour, but when we got there it was $680 per credit hour, with a $22 per credit hour fee. We just weren't prepared for that

 

[Kellydelly]

Can you put it on a cc and pay it over a few more months? This is one situation where I would rack up a little cc debt for the benefit it would provide in the future.

 

[Marionnette]

It would help him get the job he wants, but the thing is, right now the contract for the new job is that if he has some specific classes (which he currently has) he could take the job if an opening comes up, and he could take the class after starting the new position. This class is only offered during the same hours as the job and he could not have the job and class at the same time. They are talking about a buy out of the older employees, so that COULD be one of those jobs. He said that if a job comes up he would take it, and therefore, drop the class. What?! If he drops out on or after the day the class starts he would only get a 50% refund. The class starts Monday.
The weighing of options is so confusing. Over time it is a better wage, it would be immediately better hours.

If he need the course in order to advance his career and this is the only college that offers it without the P.Chem pre-req, then it doesn't look like you have much of a choice. He won't be able to take the course if he moves into the new position and he can't retain the new position if he doesn't take the class. It's not as if this is going to change. And you're not even sure that the position will be opening up during the time that he is taking the course. You're worrying about a "what if" instead of looking at what needs to be done to achieve a long-range goal.

I'd find a way to pay for that course. Take out a loan. Check with HR to see if they reimburse for job-related education expenses. Ask family if they can assist you through this bump and pay them back over a longer period of time. Pick up a part-time job to work while he is in class. But I wouldn't let this keep my husband from moving forward on his career path.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Thanks for your replies. I think that the shock cam when my husband told me that the class was $295 per credit hour, but when we got there it was $680 per credit hour, with a $22 per credit hour fee. We just weren't prepared for that

That sounds like the difference between in-state and out of state tuition. The college here is about $250 in-state and $650 out of state.

 

[kim929]

That sounds like the difference between in-state and out of state tuition.

If it is an out of state class, does your college or the one your attending off set the difference instate and out of state since none are offered in your state?

 

[jedijill]

Does his employer offer tuition assistance? Can you take out a student loan?

Jill in CO

 

[HM]

You've been very lucky with the low cost of classes. My DH is working on a Masters and takes 1-2 classes a semester. They cost about $3000 each. Luckily he gets some tuition assistance from his work as long as he has an A or B when the class is completed. We get reimbursed up to $5000 a year. Remember you'll be able to deduct his tuition and fees from your taxes next year.

I'm really sorry you had this huge bill you weren't expecting. I'd check with his employer to see if they can help. If not, I'd use a credit card to pay in full now and pay off as you can, if the loan idea doesn't work. Good luck!