$95K/year for UChicago Econ vs. Free SSE—What’s the Smart Play?
Hi everyone,
Throughout my entire life, I’ve dreamt of studying, working, and living in the U.S. I took AP U.S. History for fun, fell in love with the culture, the ideals, and the dynamism of American society, and I’ve never shied away from calling myself an Americophile.
So, when I got into the University of Chicago to study Economics, I didn’t hesitate—I committed. No school seemed more aligned with my ambitions, and I was ready to invest heavily (~$95K/year, all self-funded via loans) to build a career in U.S. finance, ideally in NYC or Chicago, and eventually work my way up through an EB or top BB.
But now, with the current anti-international student and anti-immigration sentiment from the U.S. administration, things have changed. The idea of investing nearly $400K only to be denied a work visa—or worse, sent home with a six-figure debt and limited recourse—is keeping me up at night.
I’ve also been accepted to:
- Bocconi University (Italy): ~$52K total cost
- Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden): Free (I’m Scandinavian)
My new consideration: go to Europe, build my career in London or another financial hub, and try pivoting to the U.S. later via MBA, internal transfer, or lateral move.
I’m still emotionally tied to UChicago and the U.S., but my primary driver is economic ROI. The U.S. made financial sense when I was confident about OPT, H1B, and long-term placement. But with rising policy uncertainty and immigration risk, that math is starting to break.
That said... my heart still says Chicago. Walking away from the #3 econ program in the world—one that represents everything I’ve worked for—feels gut-wrenching. But the math is increasingly in favor of Europe.
Thanks in advance.
If you have a wealthy parent, consider going to the US for better opportunities
If that's not the case, then look into attending SSE. You are more likely to break into investment banking given your language skills and race. Plus, you'll save money that can either go towards a down payment on a nice apartment or fund your next degree
You’d be crazy to go in such high debt to study in the US. Go to bocconi/SSE and look to transfer from London to NYC after a few years
Unfortunately this is just an AI generated repost of his thread from last year asking to compare schools…
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here's the breakdown of your situation:
UChicago Economics ($95K/year, ~$400K total debt):
Pros:
Cons:
Stockholm School of Economics (Free):
Pros:
Cons:
Bocconi University ($52K total cost):
Pros:
Cons:
Key Considerations:
Recommendation:
Given the current immigration risks and the financial burden of UChicago, SSE seems like the smarter play. It allows you to graduate debt-free, build a career in Europe, and keep the door open for a U.S. pivot later. You can always pursue an MBA at a top U.S. school (e.g., HBS, Wharton, Booth) once you’ve established yourself professionally, which would provide another opportunity to break into the U.S. market.
If you’re still emotionally tied to UChicago, consider reaching out to current international students or alumni to better understand their experiences with immigration and job placement. This might help clarify whether the risk is worth taking.
Sources: Undergrad School OPTIONS (please help), Vanderbilt (full-tuition) vs UChicago ($15,000 scholarship) vs MIT (full-pay), UChicago's true rank, prestige and value for IB, is it even worth it for international students anymore?, One day to decide: US or UK?
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