Dollar value of education at USAFA
- Thread starter Gadesign
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Quite a few threads — and debates — on this. Use the search function above. Haven’t seen any definitive number from DOD and estimates range, depending on what you include. But saying $400K - $500K all in is probably not inaccurate.
BBBRRRTT
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I would submit you take a top tier state school and add a little on for the soaring and powered flight training. Honestly, I think the 400K figures are wildly inflated, but if someone could put a figure on the soaring and powered flight, I can def tell you what a top tier school runs, it's all online. Also note, that soaring and powered flight is a big variable. The weather in USAFA land keeps many from getting all the hours on the powered flight in the winter. So no guarantee you will solo.
txfwindian
Parent of USNA C/O 2025
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The true value is what you make out of it..
TXCheerDad
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In the Tax Withholding portion of the Cadet Booklet it says the support furnishes per semester is $32,385. I’m guessing $259,080 might be a close number. Found this on the top of page 42. Hope it helps.
When I was in graduate school we had a Finance case involving how to value a specific company. Members of the class came up with wildly different valuations. The renowned Finance Professor, who did a considerable amount of consulting outside academia, resolved the disparity in a nutshell:
When I receive a request to value a company, my first question is "What do you want it to be?"
Valuation is based on assumptions and contains considerable subjective insight. The USAFA website states a fully loaded value of $416,000 and a value of approximately $259,000 for tax purposes. Both figures are valid.
So the answer to your question, what is the value of a USAFA scholarship, is: When DD walks up on stage to receive her diploma, what do you want the sign to read, $416,000 or $259,000?
Most appointees that I know go with the higher number.
When I receive a request to value a company, my first question is "What do you want it to be?"
Valuation is based on assumptions and contains considerable subjective insight. The USAFA website states a fully loaded value of $416,000 and a value of approximately $259,000 for tax purposes. Both figures are valid.
So the answer to your question, what is the value of a USAFA scholarship, is: When DD walks up on stage to receive her diploma, what do you want the sign to read, $416,000 or $259,000?
Most appointees that I know go with the higher number.
Leslie_P_E
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Priceless!
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+1 to @jl123. I had an accounting professor in grad school who peppered his instructional anecdotes with “...at the firm of Dewey, Cheatham and Howe...” He, a renowned scholar, always said accounting is an art, not a science.
I believe this debate is fairly pointless. I could argue it’s worth $100,000 and back it up with sound reasoning. I could argue it’s worth $1,000,000 and back it up with sound reasoning. Some people dig into this for serious consideration and curiosity. Others want to know because it’s something to brag about.
I believe this debate is fairly pointless. I could argue it’s worth $100,000 and back it up with sound reasoning. I could argue it’s worth $1,000,000 and back it up with sound reasoning. Some people dig into this for serious consideration and curiosity. Others want to know because it’s something to brag about.
I’ve always thought high schools perpetuated this nonsense to “show their worth” to paying customers in the case of private schools and administrators in public schools. Had to sit through too many recognition assemblies where little Tommy/Tina received $1 million of scholarships. Problem being it was all inflated and scholarships were offered by 6 or more state and private colleges then rolled into that total when obviously they can’t attend more than one college at a time.
Agree 100% with @cptenca .
It was always a silly number to me, and the one I always wanted to know was what % of full sticker price are the students paying at the college they selected, and a further breakdown by MERIT aid and FAFSA/TASFA based no-loan aid.
But agree 100% with compiling this number for DD's school. It's important to the boss's boss so just get it done, and be thankful they championed you through the application process, so when they ask for something as small as a few numbers, just do it!
It was always a silly number to me, and the one I always wanted to know was what % of full sticker price are the students paying at the college they selected, and a further breakdown by MERIT aid and FAFSA/TASFA based no-loan aid.
But agree 100% with compiling this number for DD's school. It's important to the boss's boss so just get it done, and be thankful they championed you through the application process, so when they ask for something as small as a few numbers, just do it!