<p>It is worth the time and expense to apply to a range of schools and see where you are accepted and where is the most affordable. The most expensive college based upon tuition sticker price may turn out to be the least expensive in the end. You also need to add in travel costs, as well as whether you will be eligible for a state grant. For example, in PA, an average student going to an expensive private school may be eligible for a state PHEAA grant of up to $4,000 a year. However, if they go to a college in Maryland, New Jersey or New York, they get nothing because PA. is angry that residents of those states can’t use their grants in PA. If that same student goes to college in Delaware, they may get $600. </p>
<p>The policies on the ability to use state grants in another state vary from state to state. In some midwestern states, it is possible to get in-state tuition at a state school in certain other states. </p>
<p>Just be sure to include a couple of colleges that are BOTH admissions safeties and affordable. </p>
<p>Your preferences may also change in the next few months, so you want to have some choices. Schools not only vary in how much direct aid they offer per year, they also vary in the maximum amount of work study money you can earn, as well as the amount of subsidized Perkins loans they may or may not offer. Not only does tuition vary, but also room and board costs may vary up to $4,000 a year from college to college. When you compare tuition, be sure to include fees, which can add up quickly. </p>
<p>I like using <a href=“http://www”>www</a>. collegeboard. com as a start, because it provides comparable data for each college as far as costs, aid and many other factors. You can then research further if you wish by googling the name of the college and “common data set.”</p>
<p>Typically, the most total aid money by far is provided directly by the colleges, not by the independent scholarships that everyone chases. The easiest scholarships to receive are the local ones in your own area. Schmooze your teachers, because they often nominate students for the awards. However, those local scholarships are often $100 to $500 a year, and are only good for one year. These local scholarships can help, but it is more important to present your best face forward in your college application and any supplemental application for their scholarships/honors programs.</p>