<p>So I have received my financial aid package from two of the schools I applied to and have been accepted to. LMU vs CSULB.</p>
<p>Now LMU is 58K a year and the offering me a grant provided by them, (Work Study, Perkins, 2 Loans Subsidized & Unsubsidized) which total to about a half-ride. The question is, if I remove the Room & Board expenses (since I live in LA at home) do I still receive the same price of Financial Aid help or does that number go down as well?</p>
<p>Also with CSULB there school is only 23K a year but they only offered me (Subsidized & Unsubsidized) that cover half as well, but again if you remove the Room & Board portion then do the amount offered for Financial Aid stay the same? If it does at CSULB, then it covers the year at CSULB where at LMU I'm still short by about 17K a year.</p>
<p>I know the saying goes don't go into debt over 30K in debt as a student, but me as a transfer student it will only be 2 years at these schools to get my bachelors and I'm deciding on if I want to attend graduate school. What do you guys think? </p>
<p>You need to check with each school and find out what happens if you decide to commute. You’re smart thinking about this. I know students who got burned, not taking this into account. </p>
<p>The bottom line is what you have to pay. What is the price without loans and work study. Then apply the options available to you to the costs. </p>
<p>Here is the calculator that you want to run your numbers through after you’ve been informed about any adjustments for living at home: <a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid;
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you… it seems to almost be about the same for schools it seems. CSULB is only offering the two loans, so if you take away those I’m pretty much paying full price of 23K for one year. LMU if you take away those the loans, that just leaves me with the Grant and I still have to come up with roughly 30K for one year. </p>
<p>Ouch…</p>
<p>I think you should just compare tuition and fees from both schools. As a junior transfer, you should not be required to live in a dorm or have a meal plan, which are expensive. LMU’s ‘aid’ is all work study or loans, so you are still paying the full cost, they are just giving you a way to finance it. You can get a non-work study job so don’t consider that very hard. At Cal State, you are again paying full price, but a cheaper price, and again they are giving you loans to finance it.</p>
<p>If you are happy with either, go with CSU-LB. Cheaper in the long run.</p>