Out of State -> California Community College -> UC Berkeley / UCLA

[craigerfinal]

@aunt_bea

If you are low income, how will you pay OOS fees at the CC, and especially, rent while in a CC in California?

Our rents, in California, are VERY expensive and you will be working long hours just to pay the rent- forget about taking full time classes at the CC. Expect to pay about $2000 a month in rent and associated fees. That’s not covering food and day-to-day living costs. Transportation is expensive.

If you decide to do the “working for a year”, assuming you can find a job, all of your expenses have to match your income and tax forms. You are not allowed help from family, friends, discounted rents, nothing. Apartments generally require 1st and last months rent plus the rent, so $6k to move in, without furniture, internet, trash services, cooking and cleaning supplies.

The UC‘s are known for not providing any STATE financial aid to out-of-state residents. The state just cannot afford to fund nonresidents. Californians pay a LOT in their state taxes and the State uses the taxes to partially fund the schools.

I often see students say, “oh but I’m low income so I’ll get federal aid”. The Federal aid of ~$6000 max PELL- and $5500 loan ($11k) doesn’t begin to cover your overall costs of $65k per year. Your Guidance Counselor should have mentioned the UC’s costs for nonresidents.

I’m sorry. I know that you must have been really excited to receive acceptance. You’re not the only one in this position. Students often don’t understand that the UC will not and cannot provide sufficient Financial Aid funding from the State budget to nonresidents of California.

You must have gotten into some other schools with your stats, so you should probably begin to look at those offers if you haven’t already. As a low income student your best bet would be your in-state schools or whatever private schools could offer you money.

Wow. I didn’t expect such a well-detailed and extensive responseor the extensive detail, super thanks Aunt bea!

I completely understand that the U.C Out-of-State costs are completely infeasible and that the pell grant doesn’t come close to covering ~65k yearly costs. My guidance counselor has been super helpful in informing me.

I currently have ~2 years of work experience at Lockheed and a local tech company, along with a handful of certifications, and ~3k in savings + a car. I have tuition covered at UF and I will likely attend. I’m just wondering if I secure a job and residency, is there a financially viable path forward as a community college student in California?