<p>No, Thumper, I am just assuming, though I did ask, since the OP is working as a minister. I am curious as to how she is making ends meet right now. She works 40 hours a week, she says. Is this paid? Is it all volunteer work? Minister can mean a peer minister, youth minister, all kinds of minister. So there is no telling. But the OP has to living somewhere, eating, and meeting basic expenses. She says she needs about $25K to make a go of it with tuition.</p>
<p>First of all, I have a son who lives in Manhattan who has lived on less than $12K a year. That’s room, food, transportation, sundries. So, asking for $20K for living expenses is rather presumptuous, IMO. That’s why I made the remark about not expecting a school and I include school aid funds to pay for ones living expense. Can you imagine the costs to all if everyone was entitled to room, board, supplies, books, discretionary expenses while going to college? Those who qualify for PELL and have inexpensive state options, get school aid, merit money, state funds, might be able to cobble something out of all of that especially with loans, but as a rule, no, someone, student, family has to cover the living expenses. The OP can borrow enough to get tuition covered from DIrect loan entitlements. But yes, she has to come up with living expenses. Highly unlikely to get a college, organization, funds to pay for her to go to college.It very rarely works that way. </p>