Anonymous
Post 10/22/2025 21:46     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:You can get a full ride at Troy with a 1450 SAT

At Texas tech you can quality for in state tuition with a scholarship for $1000 or more which is fairly easy to get: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/incfreshman.php



But OP’s kid is a Californian so he is OOS, not in-state and the chances of becoming in-state are nil because the Texas public system has some of the strictest residency rules in the U.S. You also need an above average GPA for Texas Tech, which it sounds like OP’s kid doesnt have.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2025 09:42     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
UT Dallas also offers positive tuition waivers although the criteria are not as transparent as at TTU and I believe it's more competitive but I could be wrong
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2025 09:38     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
You can get a full ride at Troy with a 1450 SAT

At Texas tech you can quality for in state tuition with a scholarship for $1000 or more which is fairly easy to get: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/incfreshman.php
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2025 09:34     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
What sort of test score range would be reasonable to expect for him? 1500, 1300?
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2025 08:31     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Private universities give need-based financial aid without regard to state of residence. Selective private universities often give very generous need-based aid.

Colleges each have a Net Price Calculator somewhere on their financial aid website. Use that to see how much aid you would get from the school. You can use it anonymously and play around with the different numbers you enter.


Thanks, he won’t get into a selective school of any kind

There are schools where 3.5 would work. Come back and post when he has an SAT score.


Okay thanks! He took PSAT just recently so I’ll be back once I know the score


I'd really encourage him to study hard for the SAT or ACT. A high score will lead to many more opportunities. Merit aid on top of financial aid will make lots of colleges accessible.
Anonymous
Post 10/22/2025 07:53     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:OOS is generally more expensive.


There are quite a few prominent state universities which offer automatic scholarships and/or tuition waivers to oos students based on GOA & SAT/ACT scores.

Their web sites typically gave a chart which shows you exactly how much $ you get for certain GPA & test score combinations.

This aid can bring the price down to a level similar to what you’d pay at an in-state public…maybe even less than you’d pay in-state.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 22:34     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:CC with the focus on transferring to a UC after 2 years may be a good approach and he might be able to get into a higher ranked UC.

If he applies to UC now, UC Santa Cruz is also a possibility.

If you are OK with a Catholic school, USF early action might work, but I would run the NPC as suggested.

As far as OOS, you might want to look at the University of New Mexico, but, again, run the NPC. You will have to decide whether you think it is better and more cost effective than a CSU.


All right, I guess there’s no way around running the NPCs, sigh.
He isn’t the transfer personality to be honest, he’ll just lose motivation along the way. It’s better to just put him on track and let him chug along



Well, he may have to mature and become a “transfer personality”. Seriously, your best bet, by far, is for him to live at home and attend one of the many California CCs, then transfer to a CSU.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 22:33     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Univ of Oregon, Oregon State, Portland, University of Arizona, Arizona State, Northern Arizona etc.one of them might give better $ if you want to keep option of an oos. Use school's npc.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 22:33     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:Plenty of schools in the West thay might be cheaper and could give merit or financial aid. Utah, ASU, Montana State, Iowa State.

Also look at WUE program: https://www.wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/for-students/


Definitely check out WUE. I read somewhere that a decent number of Northern California kids go to Oregon St. (which participates in WUE) because they can't get into the UCs they want. Oregon State is in a nice college town, some strong programs, high admit rate, goods sports if he wants that atmosphere.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 22:21     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:CC with the focus on transferring to a UC after 2 years may be a good approach and he might be able to get into a higher ranked UC.

If he applies to UC now, UC Santa Cruz is also a possibility.

If you are OK with a Catholic school, USF early action might work, but I would run the NPC as suggested.

As far as OOS, you might want to look at the University of New Mexico, but, again, run the NPC. You will have to decide whether you think it is better and more cost effective than a CSU.


All right, I guess there’s no way around running the NPCs, sigh.
He isn’t the transfer personality to be honest, he’ll just lose motivation along the way. It’s better to just put him on track and let him chug along


If your SAI is low, the NPC is your friend. Think of it as your ally, and well worth your time.

I’d also suggest running it specifically for CA Catholic schools like USF, Santa Clara and others. Some of them have a more supportive environment than UCs and CSUs.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 21:54     Subject: Re:ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:There are definitely schools less expensive - Western Carolina and any of the NC Promise schools have $5,000 out of state tuition: https://www.northcarolina.edu/impact/affordability-efficiency/nc-promise/

There are also many schools that will offer in-state tuition if a student has a certain GPA or SAT score - for example Missouri State
Likely many other lesser known colleges in midwestern states will be same or less expensive as in-state in California


Great, thank you! Some of them are probably better than CSUs too.
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 21:53     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Private universities give need-based financial aid without regard to state of residence. Selective private universities often give very generous need-based aid.

Colleges each have a Net Price Calculator somewhere on their financial aid website. Use that to see how much aid you would get from the school. You can use it anonymously and play around with the different numbers you enter.


Thanks, he won’t get into a selective school of any kind

There are schools where 3.5 would work. Come back and post when he has an SAT score.


Okay thanks! He took PSAT just recently so I’ll be back once I know the score
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 21:52     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Plenty of schools in the West thay might be cheaper and could give merit or financial aid. Utah, ASU, Montana State, Iowa State.

Also look at WUE program: https://www.wiche.edu/tuition-savings/wue/for-students/
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 21:52     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:CC with the focus on transferring to a UC after 2 years may be a good approach and he might be able to get into a higher ranked UC.

If he applies to UC now, UC Santa Cruz is also a possibility.

If you are OK with a Catholic school, USF early action might work, but I would run the NPC as suggested.

As far as OOS, you might want to look at the University of New Mexico, but, again, run the NPC. You will have to decide whether you think it is better and more cost effective than a CSU.


All right, I guess there’s no way around running the NPCs, sigh.
He isn’t the transfer personality to be honest, he’ll just lose motivation along the way. It’s better to just put him on track and let him chug along
Anonymous
Post 10/21/2025 21:51     Subject: ELI5: if we are low income and cost is a major concern, does it even make sense to look OOS?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Private universities give need-based financial aid without regard to state of residence. Selective private universities often give very generous need-based aid.

Colleges each have a Net Price Calculator somewhere on their financial aid website. Use that to see how much aid you would get from the school. You can use it anonymously and play around with the different numbers you enter.


Thanks, he won’t get into a selective school of any kind

There are schools where 3.5 would work. Come back and post when he has an SAT score.