| Hi, I'm new to this and wondering if most schools offer aid to cover what the school says you would pay? For example I looked at Penn State and it says I would pay $ 25,000. Thanks in advance. |
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It means you're taking out loans unless the school specifies that all need is met through grants. The list of schools meeting need through grants isn't particularly long
Amherst College Bowdoin College Brown University Colby College Columbia University Davidson College Harvard University Johns Hopkins Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Northwestern University Pomona College Princeton University Stanford University Swarthmore College University of Chicago University of Pennsylvania US Air Force Academy US Military Academy (West Point) US Naval Academy Vanderbilt University Washington and Lee University Yale University https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-that-offer-complete-financial-aid |
| We did not get the expected family contribution amount from any school. Most times we just got the minimum 5K loan offer. |
| FAFSA |
| Thanks for the correction on spelling. Those schools mentioned are way out of league for my DC. And, UGH that stinks about schools not meeting the expected family contribution figures. PSU said everything covered by a grant with I think $ 3000 loan. |
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If you make over 125k I wouldn't focus on financial aid.
You (your kid) will only be offered the 5k loan. Focus on schools that provide merit aid. Some out of state publics give aid out for as little as a 3.0 GPA. |
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To be CLEAR: what FAFSA says you are able to pay is not necessarily what you will pay. The only aid coming FROM FAFSA are the Pell grant (for low income) and federal student loans.
Colleges typically include additional information in their need calculations, many colleges do not meet full need, colleges have all different levels of resources. So, it is necessary to use the Net Price Calculator you can find on each college's financial aid website. You must do this for each college. If you do not live in Pennsylvania, then no, you will not get need-based grants from Penn State. It is a public university. Most public universities do not give need-based aid to out of state students. |
| I did the net price calculator for PSU and others and they all say about the same - that we would pay about 25k per year. I am the only parent and make about 100k a year. Own a house with some equity which I won't mind digging into for college. No other real assets. My DC is more of a State School applicant. GPA is 3.5 and SAT (I won't even say - but will not submit). |
| The schools expect you to have saved for the last 18 years and to further dip into savings. |
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Not a hopeful article, but something you might find useful.
https://www.thecollegesolution.com/12-expected-family-contribution-tips/ |
| If you live in PA, you should consider some of the actual PA state schools like Slippery Rock. I know things are kind of messed up bc of the consolidation but I don’t believe Slippery Rock is affected. Or West Chester near Philadelphia. Both will be cheaper than Penn State or Pitt. Penn State and Pitt are state related schools so they are more expensive than the state schools in PA. Kent State in Ohio offers a lot of merit. University of Maine may offer in state tuition to PA residents. |
can you name a few to help jump start our research? thx! |
Alabama |
Indiana and Arizona |
Nebraska-Lincoln |