My second choice is now Cal State Long Beach, previously it was CSLA. I’ve heard CSLA isn’t great, and isn’t in the best area. What do you think about this school?
I’ve gotten so many comments about how Cal States are “expensive”. My CSLB net price is only $19000 (before FAFSA) which is similar to in-state for the good colleges in NJ (where I live). Also, New Jersey is one of the most expensive states in the country, similar to California. So, I don’t think I’ll have a terrible experience as some here think I may.
Cal State Long Beach is a great school but again you are not including the OOS costs to your net price. Look at the website and you will see if you include Regular tuition/Non-resident tuition fees/room board, it comes out to $33K/year. So you are saying you get $10k/year in Federal Financial aid? Your parents are Ok with paying $19k/year out of pocket?
@aunt bea: I agree OP is not using the NPC correctly and not including the OOS fees. Also based on their other posts, OP has the impression that if they come to work in Californa for a year, they will be eligible for in-state tuition. The unrealistic fantasy of youth…
@gumbymom I’m not “unrealistic”, I’ve had to deal with way more than most teens. I don’t believe that at all, but many others who’ve commented on my posts do, as their recommending that.
This is what my recommended number said. We make less than the average family, and especially less than the ones here. I selected “I’m not a resident”. It does say add 372 per credit, I forgot to add that, but that’s still only 2,075 and a $5472 fee. So, my total would be about 26,000. On the website, tuition is 26,000, plus the 2,075 and $5472, so that would be $36000. So, yes, I guess I would get $10000.
That is geat that you are getting some financial aid, but how are going to pay the difference? As a student, you can only take out $5500 in loans as a Freshman. The rest will be up to your parents. Are they willing to take out loans or do they have the money saved? Also just you and your Mom moving here will not get you in-state tuition/ residency. Another question is if you are getting that much financial aid, why wouldn’t your in-state schools be a better bargain? I have been through college admissions many times the last few years and I see so many students get accepted to schools they ultimately can not afford. Just make sure you understand what you and your family can afford, the likely chance you will end up paying OOS costs all 4 years and that NPC’s are estimates only. I wish you luck and hope you prove me wrong.
Twelve (12) units per semester, at $372 per unit, would be $4484 per semester or an additional $8928 per year on top of the current tuition. So assume at least an additional $9000 per year which cannot be paid for through any federal funds.
The Cal States fund local students first. Financial aid goes through the SDSU office: http://worksheets3.edhelperclipart.com/pdf/pdfbasicskills1434813592_7802152.pdf. If you ask for financial aid, your admission chances go down because they have plenty of OOS students who can pay full fees with higher stats. Remember that this is the most popular CSU campus. Long Beach gets 80k applications. They are becoming extremely selective. Governor Brown is on the hot seat to admit more locals.
As a local and former alumna, who is constantly being asked for donations for local students, I don’t see them funding the supplemental fees for OOS students.
@gumbymom I know you can only take $5500 out as a student. My mom has some save, and some others in my family have saved for me. Yes, my mom would be willing to take out loans for me. I’m an only child, so she won’t have others to provide for besides herself. The better NJ schools are pretty expensive, and only a few have social work. There’s one that I would consider, it’s about 12K a year. But, I really don’t want to go to college in NJ, and definitely not for all of college, I’m just not happy here. If I do go here, it’ll only be for a year, my mom recommended that. Thank you.
@auntbea I didn’t realize that was per semester. I’ve heard that Long Beach is becoming selective, and they accept locals first. San Diego State is also selective, right?
@auntbea Fairleigh Dickinson is actually 53,000, but for me it would be 26,000 (close to Cal tuitions). Rutgers, a popular social work school, is 30K a year, but would only cost me about $18000, but I’m only saving $4000 from being a resident. I really don’t think I’d be happy in these schools, though. CUNY Hunter (NYC) is my top choice if I stay local, it says my cost will be $15500, and I may be eligible for a tuition of $10300, which is very cheap, especially with room & board. But, this school is pretty selective.
SDSU is the 2nd most selective CSU followed by CSULB. Both schools since they are Cal States, give priority to local residents first, then in-state applicants followed by OOS. The Cal states accept OOS applicants since the majority are full pay which helps the bottom line at these schools. If you and family can afford the costs, by all means apply, the Cal States would love to have your money. Just be aware, like I stated above, you may end up paying the OOS tuition costs all 4 years unless you can prove California residency which means you would need to take a GAP year before starting college. Also, Cal states do not allow you to defer, so you would need to apply during the GPA or reapply depending upon your decision.
Many well qualified OOS students get significant financial aid offers from So Cal Privates like LMU and USD. Something might want to investigate.
You can control cost somewhat by living cheaply, stacking lots of students into a small apartment, eating ramen, etc… but, So Cal is an expensive place to live. As long as can gain admission andare prepared for a $30k/yr bill, you are all set.
@NCalRent I was hoping to live on campus, it seems cheaper. I’m from NJ (NYC area) so I’m used to very high cost of living. But, I think it’s worth it more in California. For LMU’s net price, I got 47K, or 53K without loans!!! For SDU, I got 42K. Maybe they will go down when I get my SATs back…
@newjerseygirl98 The CSU net price calculators do not calculate the out of state fees. Checking that you aren’t a resident when filling out the online form is only in regards to your eligibility for a Cal Grant (which you aren’t eligible for). The net price calculator does not calculate your total cost of attendance as an out of state student. You have to add an additional $372 per semester unit (or $248 per quarter unit, whichever applies to the particular college).
The CSU net price calculator also doesn’t ask for assets…and you will be required to indicate assets (excluding primary home) when applying for financial aid. The cash that you mentioned your mother has saved will be considered as available, and may possibly affect your receiving aid other than a student loan.
If you plan to graduate in 4 years, you should take 15 semester units ($372X15=$5580 additional cost each semester, or $11,160 additional cost per year as an out of state student). Total cost of attendance will be about $33,800 excluding the student loan you plan to take and any aid which you may or may not receive.
Don’t count on getting in-state residency whether your mom moves to California or not.
@MLM When I add the OOS fees, I’ve received about 32k total (with 15 semester units, before Pell Grant, which I’m eligible for). With Pell Grant, that would be about 26.5K, not terrible. I know you have to put assets, my parent doesn’t have much unfortunately, so I don’t think the number would change drastically. @auntbea I’m not counting on OOS residency, but the numbers I’m getting aren’t as high as most others here, even when I add the fees. Only a few people here seem to understand that.
How will you pay that money per year?
Getting a job in California is not that easy, neither for you, nor your parent. Everything is competitive. My daughter’s job received 8000 applications for a couple of job openings. Everyone assumes that they can just apply for California jobs because they want to live here. Well the rest of the country wants to do the exact same thing.
@auntbea Everyone tries to do the same with NYC, so I understand what you mean. My family and I would take out loans, and I’d pay it back right after college, as most people do…
It sounds like you have a good handle on the cost. What us Californians can’t fathom is why someone would pay $30-$35K to go to CSULB. It is a fine school but, you can probably get an equivalent education in your home state for half the price (or less).
It isn’t my place but, I’ll say it anyhow, someone with essentially no assets listed on their FAFSA shouldn’t spend their limited family resources on the $10k/yr+ out of state premium. If your family is wealthy.and wants to pay up so you can have the CA college experience, I am fine with that. If you don’t have deep pockets, it is a foolish waste of $50k you don’t have.
Go to a more cost effective school, get your degree and then move to CA.You will come out ahead in the long run.
I will say, In most CA communities it is pretty easy to find a low wage service job of some kind. In my town, Chipotle, Starbucks, Home Depot etc are always hiring, that may not be true in some parts of the Central Valley but, near CSULB, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding work while in school.
Career jobs are plentiful in the Bay Area and much of SoCal, elsewhere, less so.
@NCalRent There’s only one good state school in NJ that’s not around the same price (even for in-state) that offers social work. A main issue is I don’t like living here, but even if I did, it’s impossible to find a good school that offers social work! My immediate family (mom) isn’t wealth at all. But my grandparents and dad are “comfortable”, hopefully they’ll help with the costs…
So, have you researched social work opportunities in California? I thought that you were a STEM student.
You’re planning on spending a fortune for school, to get a job in social work in California? Average pay, if employed is $30 per hour BUT that’s before our fabulous California sun taxes. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes211029.htm#nat
I work for a facility that trains student MSW candidates from the 3 major universities in town. Very few jobs exist with just a BA in social work. The students want jobs at my facility but we can’t employ them. We get about 80 to 200 faxed resumes for non-existent jobs per week, and we don’t advertise any jobs; our SW’s stay put and we don’t have any openings. Their pay is not great. If you are going to put in so much effort to come to California, you need to look realistically at future opportunities.