Hi, I recently got accepted to both Boston College and Lehigh University. The aid awards I got from them are about the same in actual amount, but Lehigh’s cost of attendance is about $5,000 less than BC’s making it the more affordable option. Would it be possible for me to appeal BC’s offer to ask them to match Lehigh’s, so the amount I would have to pay out of pocket would be the same? The financial aid award I received from BC is already very generous, 80% of my cost of attendance in BC grants and 85% with federal aid and work study, and honestly, if I lived a Spartan lifestyle, I would likely be able to cover most of the remaining cost of attendance, especially if I receive some of the scholarships I’ve applied for. However, if it would be possible for me to get an extra $5,000 in aid, I think I should at least try. The BC form for appealing financial aid seems to only consider changes in family income or extenuating circumstances, so does that imply that they wouldn’t consider competing or would I need to call or send an email?
COAs are often padded…
What is the breakdown of the COA for each school?
How much can you earn/save over summers??
BC Breakdown:
Tuition: $50,480
Fees: $1,346
Room and Board: $13,818
Books and Misc: $2,650
Total: $68,294
Note: BC estimates on my financial aid award page that the cost of attendance is $71,379
Federal Work study: “During the semester break and spring break, you may work up to 29 hours per week”. I assume I could get another job during the summer too.
Lehigh Breakdown:
Activity Fee: $200.00
Books and Supplies: $1,000.00
Lab Fee: $550.00
Miscellaneous: $1,065.00
Room and Board: $13,120.00
Technology Fee: $420.00
Tuition: $50,320.00
Total: $66,675.00
Maybe I was wrong and they’re actually a lot closer in cost? I don’t know why BC gives it’s total as $3,000 more than in the breakdown. Is that the padding you’re talking about?
Back out of he books and misc.
Does either package cover all of your direct costs?
There is an expectation that you would get a summer job to cover your books and misc costs.
What does your FAPackage from each school look like?
BC Financial aid Breakdown (Annual):
Subsidized Direct Loan: $3,500
BC Scholarship: $56,600
SEOG: $400
Federal Pell Grant: $1,570
Federal Work-Study: $2,500
Total: $64,570
Lehigh:
Direct Subsidized Loan: $2,006
Direct Unsubsidized Loan: $3,494
Federal Work Study: $2,200
Lehigh University Grant: $53,010
Loan Elimination Grant: $3,500
Federal Pell Grant: $1,670
Total: $65,880
I have a college fund of about $10,000, so don’t plan to take out loans until I have to. So I guess looking at it now, I might not be able to negotiate anything. Any other opinions about that?
Your Pell grant is $100 lower at BC, so that might be an error.
Since your subsidized loans at Lehigh aren’t the max, they have calculated that they have met all need. If they gave you less work study, they might be able to up the subbed loans/decrease unsubbed.
I think you are appealing almost identical offers. Identical very generous offers.
You got very generous need based offers from both of these schools. Honestly, I can’t see what you are going to gain by an appeal. BC happens to cost more…they also sometimes consider things differently than other colleges…like home equity,for example…or business deductions if your parents have any self employed income.
Congratulations!
Alright, I’ve decided not to appeal it. I guess I should have looked at it a little harder beforehand. Thanks for the help everybody.
Wonderful offers…both great schools!
http://www.bc.edu/offices/stserv/financial/finaid/undergrad/how_aid_works/cost_of_attendance.html
The ‘padding’ talked about are estimates for books, supplies included in COA but not direct billed costs. These can be on the high side and differ between colleges.
The $71,000 number from BC is their COA for 201/18.
The estimate you got in your aid award might have been for 2016/17.
Costs can go up every year.
Room and board depends on options ultimately chosen.
BC
2017/18
Direct costs:
Tuition $52,500
Fees $1,401
R&B $14,142
Total $68,043
Aid:
Scholarship $56,600
SEOG $400
Pell $1,670
$58,670
Net price:
$9,373
Subsidized loan offered:
$3,500
Remaining cost: $5,813
Lehigh
I’m assuming those are 2017/18 estimates since the website shows tuition of $47,900 for 2016/17
Tuition $50,320
Fees $1,170
R&B $13,120
Total $64,610
Aid:
Lehigh Grants
$53,010 + $3,500 = $56,510
Pell 1,670
$58,180
Net price:
$6,430
Subsidized loan offered: $2,006
Remaining cost: $4,424
You will also need some money for travel, books and supplies for first semester.
I did not include work study income in the calculation, it is not available up front, and will be earned depending on hours worked.