Considering Wharton ($$$) vs. Kenan-Flagler ($) (undergrad)

Hello, I'm a rising high school senior in NC who's just starting to apply to colleges. I intend to major in finance or business administration. I have competitive stats for Wharton and I'd like to apply ED, meaning I would have to commit regardless of my given financial aid package. My EFC is $60k and I have a friend going in the fall with a similar family income, paying around the same amount. My parents will chip in $30k a year, meaning I would probably be taking on another $30k in loans per year.

However, $30k a year is enough to completely cover the in-state cost of UNC, and then some for better housing and/or fraternity dues. I know KF is a good business school, but I'm worried it would limit my job options after graduation, because from my understanding it isn't quite as prestigious as a T20. 

Would it be worth possibly accruing $120k+ in student loans to have the prestige of Penn? A commenter on an older thread comparing these two schools said that if you go to Wharton you won't need an MBA, but that was also a decade ago, so times might have changed. Any insight would be appreciated!

Watch me post this and not get into Wharton

5 Comments
 

You can break out of ed if they don't meet your financial needs. UNC is still a target, you'd save ~300k, and you can graduate in 2-3 years if you have ap/clep/community college credit. 

 

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