But the “personal books and supplies” estimate is not something the school bills you for, and can possibly be much less in reality.
Tuition and fees, room and board (direct costs) $61,932
Grant Aid $61,600
remaining direct costs $332
If course it’s not really free, but would cost a family such as this very little out of pocket.
I was just trying to show that someone with that income, but with 3 students in college would apparently qualify for a lot of grant aid there. Even more than cost of tuition.
But it is need based aid, not just scholarship based on merit.
I was trying to be nice and share info and be helpful. I’m not trying to deceive anyone. My point of this whole conversation is to take a second look at schools that initially seem expensive, because the aid may be there for your student.
Room and board scholarships are taxable. So even with a full ride, its not free. And unless the school is paying for you to get to and from school its not free either. But if you are getting something others are paying $65,000+ for and you are paying $332, its pretty much free (at least to the vast majority of people).