<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am a 29 year old woman who has saved for a few years and has completed two years of community college. I am a minority, legal immigrant, and cannot get any financial assistance from my parents. I have a 4.0 and have been invited to and excelled in honors programs. Is it reasonable to hope that I can get full tuition payed for at a four-year institution? Pell Grants will not cover tuition and without more financial aid I will not be able to attend a four-year school.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>It depends on the colleges. In general, colleges do not offer full-ride to transfer students.</p>
<p>For merit, if your cc has an articulation agreement with one or more 4-year colleges, check to see whether those colleges offer any transfer scholarships – I think that may be your best bet for merit, which as 4kidsdad says, is pretty rare for transfers.</p>
<p>For need-based aid, your best shot is if you can get accepted to a school that promises to meet full demonstrated need, provided that you can afford to pay your EFC (or institutional EFC computed separately by each Profile school).</p>
<p>It depends. If you apply and are accepted into one of the few college that meets full need for transfers… then yes. However, need based financial aid will consider your savings. And even schools that meet full need can do so with loans. </p>
<p>Are you flexible about location? If so, then many women’s colleges (Smith, Mount Holyoke, Brwn Mawr, Wellesley, and more) offer programs for woman over the age of 24. Those schools can be generous with need based financial aid). </p>
<p>As an independent undergrad junior you will be eligible for $12,500 in Stafford loans. Loans + Pell Grant + Federal Work Study should get you close to the costs of tuition. </p>
<p>Are you in Phi Theta Kappa? (<a href=“College Scholarship Opportunities | Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society”>College Scholarship Opportunities | Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society)</p>
<p>You mention that you have savings. That may hurt your EFC. Also, it sounds like you have an income.</p>
<p>What was your EFC while going to your CC?</p>
<p>Most schools will not give you much aid as a transfer student.</p>
<p>Is there a state university that you can commute to from where you’re living? That may be your affordable choice.</p>
<p>Usually, NO. That is the short answer. If you are looking for college financial aid to pay for your tuition, room and board and all other expenses, it is a long shot to get a package like that. </p>
<p>If you can continue living where you have been living, and there is a 4 year state school in the area, you can continue as you did in community college. If you are eligible for PELL and the Stafford loans, you can get that money, and usually that is enough to cover the tuition,fees, books, commuting. Most students will work part time for any extra money. </p>
<p>Talk to your counseling department at your community college for suggestions on how you can continue your education and get your 4 year degree. A lot of CCs have some sort of agreement with a 4 year state school or other programs and being a top student can help.</p>