Playing with tuition

Cutter's Log - Stardate 1102.52.10
Current Song - Viva la Vida (Coldplay)

This is a fun webpage for trying to figure out how to raise money:
http://www.niu.edu/bursar/tuition/estimator.shtml

It's taking a little longer than I thought, but a while ago I chose NIU as the place to study. That part is done, now comes the next step: what the heck do I have to pay for just ONE class?

One class = 3 credit hours. That's easy enough.

Let's do this together, shall we?

1. Illinois Residency: I live in Sterling, so I live in Illinois.

2. Academic Career: Undergrad, still (even with an Associates).

3. IL Truth-in-Tuition (Ugrad in-state): okay, I guess they want my money now? Perhaps I can assume that I'll enroll for Spring 2011??

4. On-Campus (DeKalb) Hours: One class = 3 credit hours.

Now we're seeing some numbers.

5. Course Material Fees: They suggest in the subscript below that it's usually $50-$100, so I'll just go $150.

6. Books: Just by viewing some of the classes listed on the Bookstore's page , the book fees don't seem to be any different than the book fees I paid while at Sauk. Still, I'll plan for a cost-rise, so I'll put down $150.

7. Other Fees: I do not believe I would have any.

AT THIS POINT my grand total for taking just one class at NIU is: $1,545.32 (assuming I did everything above correctly).

8. Room and Board: (I don't think I clicked a mouse quicker in my life after seeing the rates).

9. Meal Plan Option: I seriously do not understand what this is. If I want to eat, can't I just pack a sack lunch? Pass, I guess.

10. Financial Aid: You mean this still exists?

11. HIP fee: I guess this is better than a GROIN fee. This similar to the deferred payment plan I used for Sauk. This would be four installments of $398.83. $398.83 in January (plus the $54 yellow parking permit fee), $398.83 in February, $398.83 in March and $398.83 in April.

$398.83 is just a little more than double what I normally paid a month for Sauk's plan.

This is just for one class.

Let's fill out a FAFSA form ... on second thought, I'll just cover the girls basketball game tonight.


(Next up in the college series of Blog entries, assuming there are no issues with what's already mentioned: planning to be the old geezer receiving the Bachelor's. Or, the four-hundred-year plan.)