With an income in your range, you will be expected to contribute a good portion of your kid’s college costs. Need based aid will not be forthcoming at most schools. You would get some need based aid at THE most generous schools but these are also highly competitive for admissions.
- How much CAN you pay annually for your kid’s college education?
- Can you afford the costs at your instate public university?
- Yes, she can apply to OOS public universities, but the costs will be a lot higher than your instate universities. Ditto most private universities.
Schools you might want to consider…because she would qualify for decent merit aid…University of New Mexico, Arizona. I’m not sure if a 32 is high enough for merit at Alabama.
@mom2collegekids can explain aid at Alabama.
@WayOutWestMom can explain aid at U of New Mexico.
Are you self employed? Do you own a business? Do you own real estate in addition to your primary residence? If NO to all three, complete the net price calculators on the college websites. This will give you a rough estimate…very rough…as these are currently set for students enrolling fall 2020. If your daughter is enrolling 2021, use the 2019 tax return info to complete the net price calculators.
Keep in mind, these NPCs are reset annually! Usually toward the very end of the summer. It is very very possible that financial aid formulas will be adjusted this next year especially in light of the current economic crisis. It’s very possible that some places might not be able to be as generous as in the past.
So…do the NPCs now for a rough estimate, but plan to do them again say September.
Computer Science is pretty standard from college to college. I’ll let others speak to that.
I’m flagging @CourtneyThurston who did a great job getting aid. Maybe she has some ideas of where to look as well as some college suggestions…if she is still reading on this forum.