Where should I apply to for college with my budget?

[twoinanddone]

Your parents should also get a $2,500 federal tax credit for each of 4 years, which should be able to be contributed to your college expenses. A credit means total federal income taxes are reduced by that amount, as opposed to a deduction.

This is very general. How do you know the parents ‘should get’ the tax credit? To qualify for the AOTC the income has to be below $80k-$90k for a single parent, or $160-180k for a married couple. The student has to have paid QEE (tuition, books, fees). The parent has to have tax liability as only $1000 each year is a refundable credit.

Getting the $2500 credit each year is not guaranteed, and the parents may not be willing to give it to the student if they have already committed $30k per year to college expenses.

Don’t spend other people’s money.