Is that really all they're offering me?

Imagirl · 03-05-2012, 07:08 PM

For SDSU, I got total grants of 5,700 per semester while their COA is 26k. I qualified for ~7k in loans. That means I need to take 50k+ in loans. My EFC is 0. Is that right? Or am I missing something? It just sounds absurd to me that other people with my EFC would want to take 50k+ in loans. But, maybe I'm just being ignorant. Someone help?

Waverly · 03-05-2012, 07:19 PM

Are you OOS?

Imagirl · 03-05-2012, 07:26 PM

No, I live in SoCal.

Imagirl · 03-05-2012, 07:27 PM

Is this the amount people usually get? :3

momofthreeboys · 03-05-2012, 07:29 PM

How are you coming up with $26,000, isn't it more like $20,000? What about Cal Grants and all the support for California residents? Something isn't making sense with your post...

tk21769 · 03-05-2012, 07:29 PM

Most universities do not meet full need.
For 2010-11, on average SDSU met 74% of need.
The average need-based loan was $3100.
So it appears that your aid package is a little lower than the average was 2 years ago (at about 71% of need, including the loan). I suspect they have reduced overall aid and increased the loan portion for the whole student body ... but maybe something is not right for your loan amount to be that large. Contact the aid office.

People with your EFC should not want to take anywhere near $50K+ in loans.

Imagirl · 03-05-2012, 07:42 PM

It says COA is 26k on the letter. And, they did give me Cal Grant as well as University grant. Those 2 totaled came to be 5.7k.

Or, maybe they only meant 7k loans per year? But that would mean I would have to make up for the rest...which still doesn't make sense to me.

What would be the "normal" amount of loans for people with my EFC?

polarscribe · 03-05-2012, 07:47 PM

Yes, they're offering $7,000 in loans per year, not semester... likely the $5,500 Stafford max plus (guessing here) $1,500 in Perkins Loans. That is a normal amount of loans.

So you've been offered $18,900 in aid to be applied directly to tuition and fees, with a $7,000 gap

Now you need to look at your cost breakdown - how much of the estimated costs are billed by the university and how much are, for example, transportation/housing/etc. costs that may or may not apply based on your situation?

Are you planning to commute to SDSU? That would eliminate any dorm/meal plan costs from your calculations. If you want to live on-campus, you may have to find a part-time job to be able to afford that choice.

kelsmom · 03-05-2012, 08:43 PM

With a 0 EFC, you should have a Pell grant. If you don't, you may have filled out your FAFSA incorrectly. Please let us know if you were awarded Pell.

Imagirl · 03-06-2012, 12:48 AM

Just checked the info again...

Actually, the loans are per semester :/ Alright, even with just tuition and on campus housing, the COA would be 20k.

I don't live near SD, so I would have to dorm there and maybe the next years find an apartment/live with my brother. Ah, I guess I have to rule this one out. Does this mean there's no hope for UC? And will other CSUs be cheaper?

Yes, I did receive Pell Grant, my bad. It wasn't Cal Grant.

jbourne · 03-06-2012, 01:08 AM

I'm surprised you didn't also get Cal Grant with a 0 EFC. Did your high school send in your GPA? Did you get a notice from Cal Grant that you weren't eligible? It is worth checking into, because Cal Grant covers most of the tuition. Look at this website: https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/logon.asp .

thumper1 · 03-06-2012, 08:42 AM

You didn't get the Cal Grant but you got a Pell Grant? How so?

I am not from CA...but it was my understanding that students with a $0 EFC would receive the Pell, Cal Grant, Stafford loans, and possibly work study...and this would be very close to the amount needed to attend a UC.

Something isn't right here.

mom2collegekids · 03-06-2012, 09:02 AM

Something isn't right.

Per YEAR...answer the following

How much were you given for a Pell Grant....that should be 5550

How much were you given for a Cal Grant?

How much were you given in loans?

(answer per year)

What is the breakdown of your COA? There's likely fluff in there and you can cut expenses.

Your Pell Grant should almost cover tuition (fees).

Your Cal Grant and loans can cover much of room and board.

You'll have to get a summer job to cover books and any uncovered expenses. If your family can't contribute anything, plan on earning/saving a few thousand every summer.

Were you given work-study? If not, call about that.

Keep in mind that publics generally do not give you enough free money to cover room and board. Tax-payers generally don't help much with that. Tax money is given to mainly help with tuition. Going away to college is a luxury.

UC's give better aid for EFC O, but if you're not getting a Cal Grant, then that could be an issue. Find out about that.

SDSU

In-state tuition and fees: $6,578
Room and board: $11,549
Books and supplies: $1,661

Books estimate is very high. With careful purchasing (used and online) you can get that down to below 1000.

Room and board is high. Does SDSU have enough housing for frosh or do some have to live off campus?

Kender · 03-06-2012, 01:28 PM

On paper, Cal Grant can't cover room and board. It is specifically earmarked for tuition/fee assistance. Only exception is Cal Grant B's living assistance amount.

This is just a speculation (the lack of any Cal Grant mention is confusing since if the OP meets the income and asset ceilings for Cal Grant, which it sounds like the OP does, there should be some notice... my guess would be Cal Grant B so there should be at least a $1,551 amount if OP is a frosh), but it sounds like what the OP has received is Pell Grant plus campus grant that is intended to make up the difference missing from the frosh year of Cal Grant B. The total amount makes sense as the systemwide fees for CSUs is roughly $6k.

The amount does sound low from what I'm used to seeing, but not ridiculously low. Other packages from both CSUs and UCs usually seem to be about 2/3s grant with the rest in workstudy and loans. Systemwide and campus fees are easily covered with the amount given (just over $7k for SDSU) plus some extra that can be used to cover room and board.

The CSU system is very different from the UC system in that it favors local students. While it's not something I've personally seen, I would not be surprised at preferential packaging being done. Or, at the very least, expecting more of their students to commute and therefore this is a similar package to all admitted students for the coming year. The UC system has much fewer campuses and therefore there is far more communities not served by a UC.

Or I could be completely wrong in my rambling thoughts

. I'll be interested as well to see the by year breakdown the OP has received so that it can be better determined if there is an error or a real, complete financial aid offer that is the lowest I've ever seen for a 0 EFC student at a California public.

njfootballmom · 03-06-2012, 02:10 PM

I don't know anything about California and we don't qualify for much free $ in my house....but if costs are high it's time to find a school you can commute to, or start at comm college.

People have years and years to get ready to pay for college. It's not a surprise that it has to be paid for. If there is no $, then you have to start to cheap. Sorry, but that's how it is. We DID save $ and my son STILL started at Com College so there is enough to pay for the second 2 years without tons of loans.