In today’s world of computer programmers, dot coms, and app developers, it feels like every day you hear about the new breed of millionaires who either skipped college altogether or dropped out early. Certainly these lucky SOBs are the outliers (stay in school kids!) but combined with the rising cost of colleges, more and more people are wondering if they need to spend the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on an education, oftentimes putting themselves into debt.
Then what happens when they graduate? Everyone knows the job market is terrible! Worst ever! Even The Economist agrees that paying for your expensive school was a bad decision (source). And just to think that you could have bought a dope car with all that dough. How dope? Well the results are kind of upsetting, actually.
Simply put: For the price of a four-year private institution, you could be pushing easily the nicest whip of all your friends.
We calculated the cost of attending popular four-year colleges (tuition + room + board) and then found the appropriate MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) of a nice car. Check out our findings below. Warning: have tissues nearby.
Edit: 95% of the cars listed are of equal, or lesser cost than the college. A few of the cars are slightly more expensive but we can look the other way because what’s $2K when you’re talking $120K+.
School: University of Iowa (In-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $32,224
Car You’d Own: 2014 BMW 3 Series | MSRP: $32,000
School: UC Berkeley (In-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $44,880
Car You’d Own: Mercedes-Benz CLA-class | MSRP: $31,900
School: SUNY Cortland (In-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $58,798
Car You’d Own: Porsche Cayenne (Base Price) | MSRP: $49,600
School: Purdue University (In-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $80,128
Car You’d Own: 2013 Tesla Model S | MSRP: $69,900
School: University of Georgia (In-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $92,248
Car You’d Own: 2014 Range Rover HSE | MSRP: $89,000
School: UC-Boulder (In-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $98,348
Car You’d Own: Porsche 911 Carrera S | MSRP: $98,900
School: Arizona State University (Out-of-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $108,292
Car You’d Own: Nissan GT-R | MSRP: $108,000
School: Elon University (Private) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $114,532
Car You’d Own: Mercedes-Benz G-Class | MSRP: $113,690
School: Cornell University (Private) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $123,640
Car You’d Own: Lexus LS 600h L Sedan | MSRP: $120,000
School: Florida State University (Out-of-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $137,332
Car You’d Own: Audi R8 Convertible | MSRP: $128,000
School: University of Wisconsin (Out-of-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $165,448
Car You’d Own: BMW 7-Series 760Li Sedan| MSRP: $141,200
School: Duke University | Est. Cost of Four Years: $169,332
Car You’d Own: BMW i8 | MSRP: $135,700
School: Michigan State University (Out-of-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $170,608
Car You’d Own: 2014 Maserati GranTurismo | MSRP: $150,000
School: Indiana University (Out-of-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $172,048
Car You’d Own: GTA V Rockstar x West Coast Customs “Bravo Banshee” | MSRP: $170,000
School: Fordham University | Est. Cost of Four Years: $177,800
Car You’d Own: 2014 Bentley Continental GT (base) | MSRP: $177,500
School: New York University | Est. Cost of Four Years: $179,392
Car You’d Own: Porsche Panamera Turbo Executive | MSRP: $180,540
School: Tufts University | Est. Cost of Four Years: $186,392
Car You’d Own: Lamborghini Gallardo | MSRP: $181,000
School: UCLA (Out-of-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $201,244
Car You’d Own: Aston Martin Rapide | MSRP: $207,000
School: University of Michigan (Out-of-State) | Est. Cost of Four Years: $225,312
Car You’d Own: Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Coupe | MSRP: $215,000
School: Bennington College | Est. Cost of Four Years: $238,800
Car You’d Own: 2014 Bentley Flying Spur | MSRP: $238,530
School: Harvard University | Est. Cost of Four Years: $239,800
Car You’d Own: 2014 Ferrari 458 Italia | MSRP: $233,509
School: Stanford University | Est. Cost of Four Years: $240,000
Car You’d Own: 2013 Mclaren MP4 | MSRP: $239,400
School: Pomona College | Est. Cost of Four Years: $242,128
Car You’d Own: Spyker C8 Aileron | MSRP: $225,000
School: Vanderbilt University | Est. Cost of Four Years: $249,280
Car You’d Own: Equus Bass | MSRP: $250,000
School: Sarah Lawrence | Est. Cost of Four Years: $252,800
Car You’d Own: 2012 Rolls Royce Ghost | MSRP: $250,000
