Holy. Crap.

[NYCHoosier]

Probably late to this, but definitely ditto to SoonerTexan on National Merit. While the actual NM scholarship may not be that much, most schools have their own for any finalist. I applied to NYU early decision; theirs is $2k/year (fortunately I also received an additional trustees scholarship). Even though I only applied to the one school, I received letters from various schools offering full rides, including Oklahoma and Purdue (I was an Indiana resident), purely because I was a NM finalist. If I had been valedictorian, Purdue would have paid a living stipend as well.
Cast a wide net, see what the offers are, and try to negotiate with his favorite school if one he likes less gives him a better offer.
I am so so glad my parents allowed me to choose the school that was the best fit for me, even though it was expensive (and I had to take out loans). It has had a tremendous, positive impact on my life and my career choices. Maybe I should have applied regular decision to have more leverage in scholarship negotiations, but frankly I just wanted to know in December!

[poky]

Cast a wide net, see what the offers are, and try to negotiate with his favorite school if one he likes less gives him a better offer.

Absolutely, on this. DH wrote a nice letter something to the effect of "I really like your program, and would like to go to your school, but I've been offered a full ride from x program...", and they came back with a comparable offer, so he got to go where he wanted.

I'm googling "which colleges offer tuition reimbursement for professors" right now. With five kids this would be worth contemplating a job change.

Penn has an amazing program. They refer to it as "the golden handcuffs". When dh was interviewing (it was down to KU and Penn, and while dh was down to the last 2, Penn wasn't even doing 2nd interviews until mid-June and, ya know, we needed a JOB), your kid would basically go to school ANYWHERE ... for free. Penn didn't want to have to say they'd accept them, so they'd fund your kid's education at the same cost as theirs and any institution, and then the Path department would pick up the rest as one of their benefits. It was a huge draw, but we'd have had to stay there for 12 years to realize any benefit from it, and their pay was (significantly) lower for a much higher COL city. Oh ... what they can get away with b/c of a name ...

[peggyfromwastate]

Sigh. Kris I know it will work out for you.

I'm having a hard time figuring out what we can do with a non- national merit kid tho. I'm kind if intimidated that most ppl here take national merit as a given!!! I wasnt national merit. My bro was but it didn't help him w tuition at caltech.

Any leads on the tuition break for faculty would be awesome. I think we could use that ourselves with dd5 lol.

Anyway Kris, my cuz did a post bac at Uof Wisconsin in Madison in anthropology and I know they have very strong sciences there. It might not be what he's looking for exactly, but I like that school. I went to an ochem conference there for undergrad research. It was a hopping scene. Scientifically of course.

[corn poffi]

HUGE fan of Wisconsin-Madison, it is a fantastic school! With Minnesota reciprocity, it is pretty much the same price as for WI residents. It's also a better school than Minnesota. Although I might be a TINY bit biased...it's only my alma mater, my sister's alma mater, my mother's alma mater, my father's alma mater, my BF's alma mater my grandpa's alma mater, my cousin's alma mater...ok you get the point.

Biases aside, it is a great school, especially for the sciences.

Kris, if UW ends up being an option, and you guys have any questions, feel free to ask. I work with several university departments and since I've been living in Madtown for more years than I'd like to admit, I'd be happy to answer any questions!

(Oh, and I have a bunch of friends who did the whole reciprocity thing...so I might be able to point you in the right direction. Although, I'm not sure how firm the reciprocity agreement is anymore, so there is a chance it might not be around by the time he's ready for college...I'm not sure though.)

[DCJenn]

Peggy-

One of the last Federal Budgets supposedly approved active duty personnel being able to use the GI bill for spouses and children, too. I don't know whether it was ever formally adopted though.

J.

[Pollyanna]

In terms of tuition reimbursement, AZ schools offer full tuition at any of the three state schools if you even work part time at one of the state institutions. This is how we paid for dh's medical school. My brother is a prof at Oklahoma State and they offer nothing, they have some seriously crappy benefits. Vandy offers 75% tuition reimbursement at nearly any institution in the US. You have to work there for 5 years before you can take the benefit.

[SuzySunshine]

Stanford offers a good package to any employees kid if they can get in. Our Alma mater just starter a program where alum kids can get in state tuition.

[peggyfromwastate]

Jenn-- I hope that's still an option, but I think u can only use it with 1 kid.

Idk tho. Things are changing with military and the govt deficit. They have stiffed us $2k in reimbursements so far-- they say that we will get paid under next years budget but I am dubious.

[houseelf]

U. of Cinci is 100% reimbursement
Ohio State is 50% reimbursement
Kentucky offers $3,000 year
Michigan offered some tuition reimbursement, but it is escaping me right now because that job had some weird call issues that negated it being a possibility
Wash U. is similar to Penn: 100% if your kids get in on their own merits and something like 40% of this amount for any other college. (Wash U is expensive too so 40% would probably fund State U).

[alison]

C-they've stopped the Stanford tuition break for new faculty as of a couple of years ago, I believe.

[PrincessFiona]

Hmmm. I'm going to look at Wisconsin now ....


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[peggyfromwastate]

So is this for any faculty? Or specific to a certain specialty?

[SuzySunshine]

C-they've stopped the Stanford tuition break for new faculty as of a couple of years ago, I believe.

Boo! It used to be any employee too - bummer!

[Meenah]

This is Princeton's benefit - I have a friend that works there and this is her big motivation!

Children's Educational Assistance Plan

After five years of benefits eligible service, the University provides staff members with an annual tuition grant equal to one half of tuition and mandatory educational fees up to a maximum annual benefit for their child(ren)'s undergraduate study at an accredited two or four year college.