<p>Let me explain why Mass public universities have such high fees, and low tuition: It is written into law that for every course taught by a full-time faculty member of a state college/uni, a certain amount of tuition for that course must be refunded back to the Massachusetts General Fund. So…to keep that amount that schools have to return to the state low, they charge very low tuition, and really high fees to make up the difference! Isn’t that crazy? It encourages the use of adjunct instructors as opposed to full-time, accessible faculty for teachers, and in the end, I think the students lose out.</p>
<p>Oh, and the low tuitions that have been that way for years have nothing to do with keeping things “affordable”. Otherwise, fees would have also been kept low. I was told Massachusetts is the only state with this crazy rule about reimbursing the General fund, which is why other publics seem so reasonable when it comes to tuition AND fees.</p>
<p>That is a crazy system but you’re not alone, neighbor! NYS takes a huge cut of every tuition dollar and sweeps it into the general fund and even tithes every research dollar the SUNYs bring in! Keeping tuition low is big deal here too (although it’s up to almost $5K/year now). Somehow the SUNYs have been able to keep their fees in the $1-2K/year range…not sure how they manage that, or how long it will continue given the massive budget cuts they’ve been handed for the past few years.</p>
<p>
That was tongue-in-cheek/sarcastic.</p>
<p>*OP is a MA resident, so travel should be substantially less than $1250. Personal expenses can be kept low with discipline, especially if you have no money or are cheap. $100/month is not that unreasonable IMO.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>I agree that transportation costs can be lower if he doesn’t have a car on campus and doesn’t go home much. However, if he has a car, pays insurance, pays for gas, uses the car around campus and uses the car to come home semi-frequently, then yes cost can be that high. Some schools charge a few hundred dollars just to have a parking permit on campus. </p>
<p>The personal expenses amount can be a big variable depending on his social circle. If his friends are the type to go out on weekends or if the student is dating, then $100 a month wont’ cut it. That amount is supposed to include everything from shampoo to clothing to pizza with friends.</p>
<p>^Agreed, $1250 in transportation would hardly cover annual parking, insurance, and maintenance of a vehicle and, for some programs, a vehicle is not a luxury! Also, if the city doesn’t have great public transportation, a vehicle is often needed in order to move to lower cost, off-campus housing later on…which may or may not negate the savings!</p>
<p>In the category of those not spending much of their “personal expense” money on pizza and party clothes - mine pay for their cell phones, dues, internship expenses, charitable giving, etc. and usually manage to fund at least one big trip and a few weekends away each year. They also buy groceries for their dorm rooms, though I send lots of non-perishable and personal care items back with them and try to buy most of their clothing, books, and other supplies when they’ll let me.</p>
<p>Maybe I’m mistaken, but I never really considered a college’s estimate of transportation costs to the campus to include the full cost of ownership of a car.</p>
<p>And “charitable giving, one big trip and a few weekends away each year”, these are not college expenses per se, and I don’t think the college’s estimate of expenses is meant to include stuff like this.</p>
<p>If costs like these are “essential”, then I guess you have to budget for them.</p>
<p>^ I agree with notrichenough.</p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Admissions : Why Alfred University?](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/admissions/why_alfred.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/admissions/why_alfred.cfm) Alfred University (NY) </p>
<p>[Alfred</a> University : Financial Aid : Undergraduate Freshmen Scholarships](<a href=“http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/freshmen/scholarships.cfm]Alfred”>http://www.alfred.edu/finaid/freshmen/scholarships.cfm) Merit Scholarships </p>
<p>Are you interested in business? Is that your planned major?
At Alfred University (NY) you could be eligible for $12,000 or $14,000 annually in merit aid. The application deadline is February 1st, rolling admissions. </p>
<p>Interviews are not required, unless you are applying to Honors Program.
2200 Undergrads, small classes, Division III Athletics, nice location!
You are a New England resident, so very desirable, being from out of state. </p>
<p>With the COA at the School of Business being $36,460 for Tuition, Room & Board, and a merit aid of possibly $12,000 or $14,000 plus need based aid, it might be affordable. </p>
<p>Alfred University (NY) :</p>
<p>Princeton Review’s Best 373
USNWR’s Great Schools Great Prices
Fiske Best Value
Fiske Guide 2011</p>
<p>JohnMass, my student at Alfred has never had trouble finding a ride back & forth from our New England state for breaks etc, so you don’t need a car! :)</p>
<p>Thank you everybody for your comments. Although the income of my mother and myself qualifies us for a $0 FAFSA, I do have a trust fund with just under $15k in it. When my parents got divorced about 10 years ago, my father had to put money into an Educational Trust Fund by making a withdrawal from his IRA. I have also worked year-around for all of high school, and will probably have about $8k in personal savings by the time I start college.</p>
<p>In addition to Bentley, Babson, and UMass Amherst, I applied to the following schools:</p>
<p>UConn
Northeastern
Drexel
Fordham
University of Richmond
Bryant University</p>
<p>Thank you for bringing Alfred University to my attention; I will look into the school more closely. Does anybody have any other school recommendations that I may have missed in my college search? Yes, I am definitely interested in majoring in business in college.</p>
<p>Also, I didn’t feel comfortable with giving the complete details of my estimated aid package with Babson. I will say that I am estimated to receive the full Pell Grant (in addition to my Babson Grant) and a couple of state grants. Overall, I would be receiving about $38k / year in free money.</p>
<p>I think you have a great list!</p>
<p>*Maybe I’m mistaken, but I never really considered a college’s estimate of transportation costs to the campus to include the full cost of ownership of a car.
*</p>
<p>According to those who know a lot about COA details, the transportation cost can include expenses such as gas, car insurance, car maintenance, parking permit,…and maybe more. </p>
<p>I imagine that schools where kids either commute to campus or bring cars to campus, those estimates include various car expenses.</p>
<p>I don’t know if schools that have many/most kids “flying in” use an airfare estimate.</p>
<p>And…maybe schools where many kids commute via public transportation, those estimates consider those costs.</p>
<p>*And “charitable giving, one big trip and a few weekends away each year”, these are not college expenses per se, and I don’t think the college’s estimate of expenses is meant to include stuff like this.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>I don’t believe the issue is “college expenses”…I think the issue is “personal expenses”…which can be shampoo, new undies, cell phone, hygiene products, etc.</p>
<p>If you have a zero EFC, you can pretty much subtract $5500 off of the total costs of each of your colleges. You can also subtract the tuition portion of your UMass costs out. What you have left is what you need to cover. You will probably be offered the full Stafford amount which you can subtract out too since, again that amount is going to be the same at each school. Any further loans are putting you into a dangerous situation, so I would shelf any such offers, and look long and hard at only the grants that are on the table and subtract them from each college’s costs. That final figure is what you need to come up with either with loans, a job, your parent’s borrowing or your parents or someone else giving you the money. That really is the bottom line.</p>
<p>I also want to add that if you have a trust fund with money in it, you had better make sure you aren’t supposed to be including that in your fin aid reporting. I know a few kids who really got hit with that. The funds were exempt from just about everything except the long arm of PROFILE. I believe they ask for EVERYTHING.</p>
<p>I was going to say the same: if the student has almost $8K in savings, and another $15K in a trust, how can the EFC end up at $0? My child has wayyyyyyyyyy less than that, but made $1600 last year, so just her contribution amount is more than $0.</p>
<p>A student’s $1600 income would not affect the EFC. The income protection is over $5000 for a dependent student. But the student has no asset protection.</p>
<p>However, If someone is eligible for the simplified needs test or automatic 0 EFC, all assets (parent and student) are ignored in FAFSA.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Depends what the student is majoring in…one of mine has required fieldwork, another has internships that are required. One of the yearly trips is to conferences for a professional organization. Students do present posters, etc. at these and it’s a big deal for the school. I view every bit of it as essential! YMMV</p>
<p>Yes, I did include my Trust Fund and savings in my FAFSA. However, I did qualify for the Simplified Means Test, I’m assuming due to my mom’s income and net worth.</p>
<p>Isn’t the father’s income also part of the FAFSA calculation, even if divorced?</p>