My college doesn’t offer my major, is transferring going to hurt me?

Transfer Students
1

I got into a lot of art schools last year and didn’t realize until the last minute that I couldn’t afford to attend any of them. I quickly applied to and managed to get into a state liberal arts college that claimed to have my major (Animation). However I realized too late that this was not the case, and I wasn’t the only would-be art student tricked like this.
Now I’m applying as a transfer student to two art schools (one in state and one I got the best aid at last year) but my parents are warning me I won’t get the same scholarships or aid as a transfer student. I’m really conflicted now, as I don’t see how getting a degree from the college I’m at now would be worth the debt I’ll be in to get it. My aid is really good here and I’m going on only my federal loans, but I can and will make the sacrifices to pay for art school now that I could go for around $10-$5k a year in private loans. I expected to finish college over $100k in debt for an Animation degree (character animation, not game design) and I’m passionate about the art so I will not be changing my mind on my degree choice. So:

  1. I know I can attend these two schools for a reasonable price,
  2. The college I’m at now doesn’t offer my degree and getting an arts degree there wouldn’t be worth the money,
  3. I’m passionate about Animation and I’m sure of my degree choice,
  4. I’m taking only classes designated as transferrable by KCAI, one of the colleges I’m applying to. This will hopefully see most of my credits transfer and I won’t lose this year I just did (or maybe just half of it).
    The only issue is whether or not transferring to UNCSA or KCAI will see me get reduced aid. I can deal with starting as a second semester freshman, living on campus and having a meal plan, my priority is the degree and whether or not I can afford to get it.
    TLDR: Will I get reduced need based and merit/academic grants as a transfer student pursuing an arts degree at and arts college?
    (Other notes: I have a 3.6 GPA, 25 credits, and my portfolio got me quite a lot of money last year. I also work, volunteer, intern, and I’m in 3 major extracurriculars)
2

$100k debt is not a reasonable price, and would typically require parent loans or parent-cosigned loans.

In terms of scholarships and financial aid, merit scholarships tend to be less available to transfer students. Public schools in states where the transfer pathway is well supported and used are likely to offer need-based financial aid to transfer students on the same basis as frosh (whether that is good or not depends on the state and whether you are a state resident), but private school may be less likely to.