Cheapest colleges to attend in New York state

Paying for College
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<p>I have a friend who lives in New York, and his son got a 31 on the ACT. My friend (the father) doesn't want to pay a penny for his kid's college, so the son is in a bit of a spot. He has an A average to go along with that ACT score. Any ideas on what his best options might be?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>Nice friends you have. Zero money or will he pay room and board? What is intended major, any idea if son qualifies for the new NY STEM initiative for free tuition? Why ny? There are colleges elsewhere he can get money automatically based on these stats.</p>

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<p>Look at the threads pinned to the top of the financial aid forum to see if any schools give guaranteed merit. They generally help pay tuition, but I don’t think they’re enough to cover room and board.</p>

<p>If his parents fill out the financial aid forms he can get student loans ($5500 as a freshman, slightly more as an upperclassman). If the family’s income is low enough, he could get the federal Pell grant and NYS TAP award. </p>

<p>Is there a SUNY within commuting distance? If he can live at home that would save $10k/year on room and board. With the federal student loan and work earnings, a community college should be affordable. If he’s within commuting distance of a 4-year school, that might be workable too.</p>

<p>Is there any particular reason your friend doesn’t want to contribute to his child’s education? Colleges won’t care that his dad doesn’t want to pay and will use his income to gauge financial need. If the mom is alive, her earnings will count too unless the parents are divorced. If your friend’s son applies to private colleges, both parents’ incomes are likely to count whether they live together or not. Is the mom willing to help pay?</p>

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<p>Yeah well, I disagree with him on this, but it’s his money, life, and kid. The kid wants to go into some sort of engineering. The parents are married, and she gives most of the say to him because he’s by far the main breadwinner. He’s on the bandwagon that not everyone needs to go to college, though I say a kid with a 31 on the ACT is one that probably should.</p>

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<p>Might not be the answer you are expecting but West Point is free</p>

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<p>The father is against him going into the military in any way.</p>

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<p>Can he used that for leverage then? Because that is not up to the father once he is 18.</p>

<p>I can’t post link but Google ‘NY state stem free tuition’</p>

<p>If kid is in top ten percent of class he gets free tuition at suny and cuny 4years for a promise to work in the state for 5years.</p>

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<p>A financial safety:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.alfredstate.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/distinguished-scholar-program”>http://www.alfredstate.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/distinguished-scholar-program&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>@3boystogo - Hey, thanks for that link. He might very well qualify for a great scholarship to there.</p>

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<p>@stepay You are welcome. I don’t know a lot about the school, but it’s nice to have a sure thing in your back pocket. </p>

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<p>lol…the father would HAVE NO SAY whether his child opts for the military. (god, what a tyrant! You sure you want this jerk as a friend? I hope that you’re nicely pressuring him and teaching him not to be a (insert nasty word here). And, I feel sorry for his wife, too. </p>

<p>Anyway…sounds like the dad is one of those jerks that is afraid that his kid is smarter than he is and will do better than he did. And, for that reason, I’m cheering that he leaves his old man in the dust career-wise. </p>

<p>The son needs a free ride…and he doesn’t have to go to a NY school for that. </p>

<p>This kid needs MORE than free tuition. He can’t borrow enough for room, board, etc. So, just getting free tuition from a SUNY or wherever will NOT be enough. </p>

<p>Look at the Free Rides thread. Hopefully all the scholarship deadlines haven’t passed. </p>

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<p>Uh…no…it’s his WIFE’S money, too. He seems to ignore that fact. What an @$$</p>

<p>I say, help the son get where he needs to be…and then kiss-off that jerk.</p>

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<p>Hopefully, people can chime in where such a student can get a near-full ride where any remaining costs can be covered with a $5500 student loan and some summer earnings.</p>

<p>Of course, we don’t know if the dad would refuse to let the kid use FAFSA to get that student loan. Maybe the student just needs to approach mom in that regard…dad wouldn’t even have to know. </p>

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<p>SUNY tuition is free for STEM majors in the top 10% of class So kid can commute and go to local SUNY that way for free. Some of the smaller, local privates might give a full tuition or close to it deal, and again he can commute for free. Hard to get a school to pay for the kids room and board. The best way to get that is to let parent’s continue to provide it or join military.</p>

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<p>

See <a href=“http://admissions.buffalo.edu/costs/meritscholarships.php[quote]The”>http://admissions.buffalo.edu/costs/meritscholarships.php

However, OP’s friends missed the deadline:

</p>

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<p>As I said, full rides, including room and board, are difficult to get. Not many getting that award at Buffalo. Tulane also had some full rides, the forum has some full ride, full tuition awards listed. But getting it all paid is very difficult. But with a STEM major, the tuition is covered, kid can take out $5500 Direct loan, and with a job, it’s a great deal if commuting. There are SUNYs within commuting distance all over NY, so there should be a local one right there. </p>

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<p>This student is one who may need to take a gap year to assess his choices. If he qualifies for a full ride anywhere, he should pursue it. </p>

<p>I agree with mom2collegekids. I don’t understand men like this. My husband has been the sole breadwinner for nearly 20 years while I home school our children, but we share financial decisions. I hope, for this man’s sake, that he doesn’t need help (financial or otherwise) in his old age because he’s not setting a very good example for his son.</p>

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<p>He didn’t say if the kid is a jr or sr yet. OP, please answer that. There will be more options for him if he is a jr. Also maybe he shouldn’t tell the dad about borrowing. Against paying for college, against getting helped by military and likely against the kid taking loans. But the normal student loan isn’t excessive for a kid with those stats, shows he can handle the engineering major and should have a good paying job.</p>

<p>Since it is actually a friend, maybe you want to show him this Pew report
<a href=“Education: The Rising Cost of Not Going to College | Pew Research Center”>http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/02/11/the-rising-cost-of-not-going-to-college/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Also here is the full guaranteed tuition/full ride thread
<a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And the NY new free tuition offer for STEM
<a href=“NYS Higher Education Services Corporation - NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program”>http://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/financial-aid/types-of-financial-aid/nys-grants-scholarships-awards/nys-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-incentive-program.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>@mom2collegekids - Like I said, I disagree with him here. I think most successfully married couples equally share expenses no matter which one makes the bulk of the income (I know my wife and I do), but he is obviously different there. I have passed on the idea that STEM majors in the top 10% of their class will get full tuition. I was thinking that they are likely behind with regard to applying for some of these better scholarships, so perhaps taking a gap year is going to be the way for this kid. I do appreciate all the suggestions…I really hope to be able to help here so that this kid can go to college.</p>

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<p>The kid in question is a senior in high school.</p>

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<p>@BrownParent - Thanks for that info. I will pass it on.</p>