I think if you phrase the $2,000 proportionally with regards to the overall cost of attending a private school, it’s indeed not a lot. Relative to different people, though, it can be quite a bit. It seems more correct to compare it relative to your overall income, rather than the school’s tuition.

(All of this is assuming, too, that the benefits you’re reaping from going to a private university really *are* worth the additional $100,000 or more you’re paying. I think it’s fair to consider this in the cost as well, but then it just reduces to the question of whether or not going to a Famous University is worth it, which doesn’t seem to be what we’re talking about here, so I won’t press the point. Just pointing out that it may be )

Also, there’s a time cost associated with this.

So I think the route of waiting two years and paying an additional $2,000 seems to apply only to a fairly thin slice of people. For most people, it may not make sense.