I have a scholarship offer from susquehanna for 44k, I am thinking maybe I will try to negotiate my aid. But I don’t know how or if that will work.
I agree that Penn State is incredibly expensive and hides behind the “state related” language to try&excuse its instate price - and Geneseo, Oneonta or Oswego are great bargains for PA residents.
But in this instance, 1) Agribusiness has scholarships for rising freshmen and further scholarships for upper level students (2.5-7k AFAIK) 2) although it includes Smeal classes and has been built with Smeal professors, it’s not in Smeal so there’s no special surcharge – so, with 35k as a starting point could well be within budget at UP for this specific major. Tuition goes from 20k to 22k after 59.5 earned credits.
As for Abington or Harrisburg, full COA is a couple hundred dollars below or above 30k so within budget right off the bat and OP is certain to get a Discover scholarship, with possible other scholarships, bringing costs well within budget. (The idea being that the money saved thanks to the scholarship is used in the jr/sr UP years.)
I suppose OP didn’t apply because they wanted urban/medium sized (OP may confirm/explain)- and WMU’s advantage in my perspective is that it’s indeed medium sized and urban, plus Kalamazoo is a cool city.
But the PSU “brand” will be incomparably stronger in PA (and in the Mid Atlantic) than Western Michigan’s if OP wishes to work there.
In other words, in OPs case, either PSU campus is a good financial&academic safety to have. It doesn’t mean OP shouldn’t apply to WMU (probably should apply to most colleges listed here).
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Thanks for clarifying your budget – there’s a difference between Having a 40k budget but preferring 30k, and Realizing 40k is an impossible amount. 
So your parents can contribute 5k, you have the 5.5k federal loans, you can maybe earn 5k if you start working part time now… your budget is far below 30k. 
Is your siblings FA going to change? Are your parents spreading 15k over the 3 of you?
Do you qualify for PHEAA grants at all?
I suppose you got into the College of Business& Honors College at Susquehanna - what’s left for you to pay after your 44k scholarship?
Note that some CSS Profile colleges continued with the “sibling discount” and may thus be worth running the NPC on. Check out Dickinson, for instance.
Though for the best discounts you already have a good list on this thread.
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I don’t think the Penn State brand or any other brand matters for this…there are many large companies that will have rotational programs and smaller companies that will simply have jobs - and there really isn’t a need for agribusiness or even food marketing…or even a business degree, although it’s fine to get one.
For co-op, choose your school wisely. Some like U Cincy (not affordable) mandate co op in business but most, you won’t have access vs. say an engineering degree, etc.
15k over the three of us. I have some money and work, it should be enough to cover small misc. costs. I am okay taking out like 20k a year in loans if I have to. Especially if I am going to a school with co-op. Because I can use co-op pay to help cover tuition, and also I should come out making 70-85k because I would have reasonable experience. Allowing me to pay back student loans in around 6 years living a little frugal but not too crazy. Susquehanna is 32k ish after scholarship.
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Give it a try. They usually add something to the aid if you appeal your award.
I suggest that you look into Berea College in eastern Kentucky. It’s an excellent liberal arts college with several business majors. It’s surprising just how cheaply you can go there. (Ranked #1 liberal arts college in the country by Washington Monthly, Top 40 by US News, 5 stars by Money Magazine) it got its #1 ranking from Washington Monthly partly because of its affordability. It’s one of the best endowed colleges in the country which is why they can make it so affordable.
Applicants to Berea must have financial need (which OP doesn’t)…most have substantial financial need. Berea also prioritizes students from Appalachia.
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I have bad news : you can’t take 20k in loans (because no bank would lend 80k to an 18 year old). You can only borrow the 5.5k federal loans. Your parents can borrow money on your behalf but it’d be really dangerous for them to borrow that much, whether in Parent Plus or against equity.)
Will your siblings graduate college next year and “free” an extra 5,k for you?
Check whether you qualify for PHEAA grants
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Have you been invited to the Honors Program? Sometimes, these yield more scholarships - if you attend the Honors-only Admission day, in particular.
Susquehanna is a great university. Very friendly, supportive, offers a personalized education.
Were you invited to Honors at St Joe’s? (Same as at Susquehanna: say yes, participate in the special admission events, ask questions, see if an extra scholarship materializes).
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Have you visited? My D graduated from there (started at a larger, more prestigious school that took away her financial aid after year one so she transferred to SU) and loved it. Lots of personalized attention and time with the professors. Got a full ride to Penn State for her master’s. Her advisors at PSU only have good things to say about Susky. I think the campus is beautiful and downtown area is very cute. Tons of big box stores in the strip so everything you need is close. And as you know the merit is fantastic. Students seem very down to earth and kind. If you haven’t checked it out you should. They may find you a few thousand more if you tell them you’ll commit.
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The SAI is just a figure indicating what the federal government thinks your family should be able to pay per year. In many cases, families find it an unrealistic number to pay.
This, combined with the student loans, comes out to a budget of about $10,500/year, plus whatever you might earn from a part-time job during the school year or summer jobs or co-ops. I will edit your title to indicate a budget of <$15k.
Based on this budget, I would take a very serious look at Delaware State as I think it’s the closest school to falling within budget. I would also look at the PA publics (like Millersville) and see what kind of merit aid they end up offering as, perhaps, they may end up being competitive with Delaware State in terms of price.
Alternatively, do you live within commuting distance of a community college? You may want to consider living at home and attending community college for your first two years (and with your family continuing to save up money) and then spend that money to help pay for your last two years.
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My parents are doing parent plus loans with me, so I am fine taking out 20k a year if I am going somewhere I am confident I can pay the debt back in a timely manner.
I updated the title to reflect $15-25k as the targeted budget, as even if you took out $20k in loans, you’re looking at a $25k budget with your parents’ contribution.
I would strongly recommend looking at the interest rates (as the interest starts accruing the second you take the loans) and what your monthly repayment schedule would look like, and for how many years. Borrowing $80k is not going to be about repaying $80k…find out how much more you will have to repay when all interest and fees is included. Additionally, I would consider different starting salaries. You might start at $75-80k or maybe you’ll start at $45-50k. Figure out how much out of your budget (post-tax) would end up being spent on loans.
Doing this may well confirm your desire to take out $20k/year in loans, but perhaps you might find that a different amount of loans would be more comfortable for your future. Additionally, realize that college costs never go down, they just continue to increase. So if you are thinking of taking out $20k your first year, then that might look more like $25-30k by your fourth year. If you want to max out at $20k/year, then you may only want to take out $12-15k for your first year.
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Get some more applications in (using this thread) and if invited to Honors anywhere go to the Admitted student days.
Check out PHEAA.
Susquehanna sounds like your best bet/sure thing at this point but a few more universities that would come in at 15-20kmay help.
What can you make from your job? can you look for more part time hours? Any savings?
For a reference point, the 27k total from federal loans become 31k with interest over 4 years and take about 10 years to pay back on a college graduate’s normal salary. In Sales, especially if you’re good, you should be able to pay back ~30k in ~5 years but then you’d have the 80k in Parent Plus.
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That’s $80k. For the kind of employment you’ll seek it’s way too much. There’s a reason the feds allow you only $27k, a third of that. Don’t forget, loans have fees - so you need to borrow more than $80k to get $80k. That parent plus loan has much higher up front fees and a much higher interest rate.
And with taxes, rent, car payment and insurance and life in general, who is paying back the loan ? It’ll likely be over $1100 a month for ten years.
That’s not sustainable when you have more affordable options.
You worry some schools are too close to home. You can go to college 5 mins from home and yet never go home.
Don’t strangle yourself financially for an unrealistic scenario. And btw what if when you graduate, you can’t get a job ? And I checked some large company programs in food sales/marketing - your salary expectations are high - at least for today.
$80k is a big mistake.
Good luck.
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OP doesn’t have financial need?
I didn’t know that.
Well if I went to Saint Joes, and I could talk the price down to something more reasonable, say 30k a year. I would be taking 25k in loans a year, but from the co-op I would make around 40k helping me pay it off. Plus most kids get decent job offers from their co-op, and avg starting salary is 65k+, but I know some kids have come out of there making 100k+ with a 80k base and commission. I am confident if I could negotiate my aid I could pay it off in under 10 years. Thoughts on this? Is it not realistic? I just did some research and came up with it.
They also have lots of $1000-$20000 scholarship just for food marketing students that I can apply for as a freshman. I have also considered graduating a year early, since I should be coming in with around 24. Credits. I just need to sit down with my admissions counselor there.
$25k a year is unaffordable and - hmm - that’s criminal that schools/banks do this to kids.
How about starting at a community college or a school where you can live home. You cannot afford St Joes and their published outcomes are less than you think (and jive with job listings I’ve found). And don’t forget, not everyone reports so career outcomes at any school are likely overstated.
You read horror stories from people that take on too much debt. Please don’t become another - what you are seeking to do is highly likely to end up - not in a good way.
As for earning - interesting that they charge tuition while you are working …hmmmm
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From the OP:
You should try to negotiate aid at st joes. Talk with your parents about debt, and educate yourself about how it works.
Here’s a debt payment calculator: Student Loan Repayment Calculator - Mapping Your Future
Current loan rates and fees, (parent plus loans are at 9.08% with a 4.228% fee.)
https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates
Once you know your monthly loan payment you can calculate how much you need to earn to be able to make that payment each month. You can adjust the key inputs as you like.
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