Scenario #2: Albert
Year in High School: Senior
GPA: 3.8
School(s) Under Consideration: Rice University, University of Texas at Austin 
Family income: $76,000 
Career Track(s) Under Consideration: Chemical Engineer 

 

Tuition Tracker 
Use Tuition Tracker to fill out the table below. 


Tuition Tracker
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
public
4year
31%Acceptance rate (2022)
30%Pay sticker price (2021)
Sticker price (2024-25)
$31,223
What we project the school will advertise as the cost of attendance for living on campus
Net price (2024-25)
$26,830
What we project students in the $75,000–$110,000 income bracket will actually pay
How do we know?

Historical price trend
Sticker price
Net price for
income bracket
14-1515-1616-1717-1818-1919-2020-2121-2222-2323-2424-25$0$5,000$10,000$15,000$20,000$25,000$30,000— upper net price estimation— projected net price— lower net price estimation

Historical sticker-price data up to 2022-23 and net price up to 2021-22 provided by NCES. Data for following years projected from Hechinger Report analyses. Shaded area calculated using highest and lowest historical discount rate for average incoming freshman in income level. In-state tuition figures are used.
Net price is calculated by subtracting federal, state, local and institutional grants and scholarships from the sticker price for first-time, full-time (and, at public universities, in-state) undergraduates. Net price data shown above includes only families of students who received some form of federal student aid, including loans, since others are not tracked.
Success rates
Graduation rates by race

Rate of students who earn a bachelor’s degree within six years of starting or an associate degree within three years over the last five years.

Graduation rates are not perfect measures of school quality, but a low rate could mean many students are dropping out or taking too long to finish, which pushes up the cost of their education. Read more
No data available for school
Retention rates by type

Percentage of freshmen at four-year colleges who returned the following fall or, at two-year colleges, who completed their credentials or returned after one year over the last five years.

No data available for school
Demographics

Enrollment (2021-22)
Total undergraduate enrollment:  43,216

Female

Male

The Hechinger Report covers inequality and innovation in education with in-depth journalism that uses research, data and stories from classrooms and campuses to show the public how education can be improved and why it matters.

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    Our Mission
    Contact Us

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Tuition Tracker
Rice University
Rice University
Houston, TX
private
4year
9%Acceptance rate (2022)
37%Pay sticker price (2021)
Sticker price (2024-25)
$78,975
What we project the school will advertise as the cost of attendance for living on campus
Net price (2024-25)
$14,580
What we project students in the $75,000–$110,000 income bracket will actually pay
How do we know?

Historical price trend
Sticker price
Net price for
income bracket
14-1515-1616-1717-1818-1919-2020-2121-2222-2323-2424-25$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000— upper net price estimation— projected net price— lower net price estimation

Historical sticker-price data up to 2022-23 and net price up to 2021-22 provided by NCES. Data for following years projected from Hechinger Report analyses. Shaded area calculated using highest and lowest historical discount rate for average incoming freshman in income level. In-state tuition figures are used.
Net price is calculated by subtracting federal, state, local and institutional grants and scholarships from the sticker price for first-time, full-time (and, at public universities, in-state) undergraduates. Net price data shown above includes only families of students who received some form of federal student aid, including loans, since others are not tracked.
Success rates
Graduation rates by race

Rate of students who earn a bachelor’s degree within six years of starting or an associate degree within three years over the last five years.

Graduation rates are not perfect measures of school quality, but a low rate could mean many students are dropping out or taking too long to finish, which pushes up the cost of their education. Read more
No data available for school
Retention rates by type

Percentage of freshmen at four-year colleges who returned the following fall or, at two-year colleges, who completed their credentials or returned after one year over the last five years.

No data available for school
Demographics

Enrollment (2021-22)
Total undergraduate enrollment:  4,510

Female

Male

The Hechinger Report covers inequality and innovation in education with in-depth journalism that uses research, data and stories from classrooms and campuses to show the public how education can be improved and why it matters.

    About
    Our Mission
    Contact Us

Copyright Ⓒ 2024 by Teachers College at Columbia University. All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies as well as similar tools and technologies to understand visitors' experiences. By continuing to use this website, you consent to Teachers College, Columbia University's usage of cookies and similar technologies, in accordance with the Teachers College, Columbia University's Website Cookie Notice.




Note: Once you’ve found the school, change the family income at the very top of the screen to get an accurate cost.




Rice University 
University of Texas at Austin
Annual Net Price 
(based on income) 
14,580
26,830
4-year cost
(assuming net price remains constant)
58,320
107,320
Acceptance Rate
9%
31%


Compare the sticker and net prices at both schools. If Albert gets below-average aid to attend both universities, which one will be more affordable for him? Explain. 




 My Next Move
Use My Next Move to look up the starting salary for a chemical engineer and note it below. For the purpose of this activity, assume the lowest salary is the starting salary. 


My Next Move
O*NET in-it
Chemical Engineers
process data technology equipment chemical manufacturing process investigative design research information effective arrangement of operations

Chemical Engineer, Engineer, Process Engineer, Scientist
What they do:
Design chemical plant equipment and devise processes for manufacturing chemicals and products, such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp, by applying principles and technology of chemistry, physics, and engineering.
On the job, you would:

    Monitor and analyze data from processes and experiments.
    Develop safety procedures to be employed by workers operating equipment or working in close proximity to ongoing chemical reactions.
    Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents, using controlled chemical processes.

Knowledge
Engineering and Technology

    product and service development
    design

Math and Science

    arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
    chemistry

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

    manufacture and distribution of products

Arts and Humanities

    English language

Skills
Basic Skills

    using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems
    thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

Problem Solving

    noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

    figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
    thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Abilities
Ideas and Logic

    group things in different ways
    notice when problems happen

Math

    choose the right type of math to solve a problem
    add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Verbal

    read and understand what is written
    listen and understand what people say

Visual Understanding

    see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

    Analytical Thinking
    Integrity
    Attention to Detail

    Dependability
    Achievement/Effort
    Initiative

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:
Analytical or scientific software

    Minitab
    The MathWorks MATLAB Hot Technology

Presentation software

    Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology In Demand

Computer aided design CAD software

    Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology In Demand
    Dassault Systemes CATIA

Education
Education: (rated 4 of 5)
 
bachelor's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:
Job Outlook
Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary:
$112,100
$75,650
$176,420
Explore More

    Chemists
    Manufacturing Engineers
    Materials Engineers
    Mechanical Engineers
    Nuclear Engineers

You might like a career in one of these industries:

    Manufacturing
    Professional, Science, & Technical

See more details at O*NET OnLine about chemical engineers.

    Help
    Explore
    Careers

        Sites

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Site updated August 9, 2024



Should Albert attend one of these top tier colleges for engineering? If so, which one? Or should he look at lower ranked schools in TX? Explain your answer. 






Part II: Reflect

What are three important things to consider when choosing a college and career? 


shorter simple word choice understandable for all