Grants and Scholarships

Attend your top school and graduate in debt or get a free ride for college?

I have a big dilemma. I applied to two universities. George Mason University (Top pick school) and Norfolk State University (last resort/fall back school) and got accepted at both. My top school I really want to attend is George Mason, but the total sum of all my grants and scholarships will not cover my tuition for the year. However, if settle for my fall back school and attend Norfolk State I'll have basically a free-ride for college meaning I'll pay no money out of my pocket because I have financial aid. My main goal with college was to graduate with absolutely no debt/loans. I do not want to spend a large portion of my life paying student loan bills. And for so long I was deadest on not borrowing any money. But now that I know I won't have enough money for George Mason, I'm wondering if I should suck it up and borrow the money. Or should I give in and attend the lesser school and graduate debt-free. {My Question for everyone:} If given the choose of earning a college degree debt-free or with debt, which path would you choose? Would you borrow all the loans needed to attend your top/dream school - no matter how much it is. Or would you go with the “free-ride” - the school in which your grants and scholarships would cover everything? As for me, I’m leaning towards the free-ride school, because I really don’t want debt, especially with how the economy and the future is looking as of now. It will be hard to give up money every month for 10 -20 years for student loans. Thanks for any feedback. Namaste

Public Comments

1. I have the exact same dilemma. I was accepted into Johns Hopkins University (40000 a year about) and then my fall back was University of Arizona (Practically free). I am choosing to go to Johns Hopkins because its a more prestigious school and it will help with my premed career choice. The more prestigious schools also help with career finding and the education is much better. I know that debt is a scary thing but I want the school that would give me the better opportunity.