Would any nearby UCs or CSUs be suitable for him as a commuter student, since living at home and commuting costs are typically lower than for living on or near campus? Another option is commuting to a local community college for two years (saving some money due to community colleges being lower cost), then transferring to a UC or CSU.
If those are within financial limits, how would they compare in desirability to colleges that offer automatic large-enough merit scholarships (i.e. the safeties)?
Oh right! And isnât there a community college that is right next to/on UCSBâs campus and students from both schools live in nearby apartment complexes and the two schools intermingle with all sorts of activities and then I think there is fairly easy matriculation to UCSB? @Gumbymom can probably provide better information.
And Iâm not sure if any of these majors appeal to the OPâs son, but UCSB has the really amazing/interesting College of Creative Studies where highly capable students basically have free-run of all the Universityâs course offerings â but itâs only for a few majors and not for Econ or PoliSci. But itâs a very intriguing program:
About | UCSB College of Creative Studies
Majors | UCSB College of Creative Studies
And of course, SB isnât a major city sadly.
There are over 100 community colleges in California, and many of them are located near UCs and CSUs. It is not too surprising that many community colleges offer courses that are closely matched to the courses at the nearby UC or CSU, based on the (often correct) assumption that many of their students are targeting the nearby UC or CSU.
However, unless the OP lives in Santa Barbara, attending SBCC living in the off-campus dorms or apartments there would be really stretching the budget ($11k parent contribution + $5.5k direct loan + student work earnings) based on https://www.sbcc.edu/financialaid/2022-2023_COA.php .
I guess I was thinking that the SB CC had a dorm/apartments that made it very well-integrated with UCSB. But then the cost-savings of the commuting option are lost (but the cost savings of the CC are gained).
And wouldnât a CalGrant or Californiaâs Middle-Class Scholarship potentially be available for a UC or Cal State to help with a non-CC option for a UC or CSU?
Yes, but that should be accounted for in net price calculator estimates.
Nyu doesnât give much as far as I know. USC gives 50% tuition if he is a NMF, and they also have a trustee 100% tuition scholarship. If he is NMSF look up the schools that offer lots of $$.
Cal Grant and Middle Class scholarship could help offset the costs of the UCâs and CSUâs but OP has already run the NPCâs for the UCâs and the costs are still over the $11K/year budget. UCâs and CSUâs do not guarantee to meet need. Most likely, the UCâs and CSUâs will come close to the EFC number.
A Cal State or UC would work if the student was within commuting distance but housing costs alone for a UC or CSU would exceed the budget + Federal Student Loan. Also what has been mentioned, with changes in the FASFA for next year, the EFC of $22K will not be split between 2 college students.
OP need to find school where merit can bring down the costs that are affordable or schools with generous need and merit based aid. A CA Community college is an option but it would also have to be within commuting distance.
Or, as mentioned above, another option would be doing two years at the local Community College, saving significant money and then TAGâing or otherwise transferring into a UC and paying the second two years with the savings from the first two years. That might be a reasonable safety option if no other school comes through with a near-full ride for the student.
And with this studentâs APs and DEs, they could probably cut the CC time significanly.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
We have great community options. He has taken multiple classes at our local cc and really enjoyed them all. He has had excellent teachers. So that will be the default if he does not get enough money at a four year university.
I know he would like to go away if possible, so we will aim for that and see what the results are. But I know he would get a great education doing community college and then a UC.
SBCC is in Santa Barbara, next to the harbor. USCB is in Goleta, about 10 miles west.
Thank you for that clarification. I had heard they were almost contiguous, but had never looked it up for myself 
Apply early to Pitt, they are not super generous with merit aid.
Opâs student has perfect academics but nothing about the extracurriculars stick out. Unless there is something special about their demographics, there may not be enough here to get merit plus financial aid from the USC/Vandy type schools (although no harm in trying). I would expect the schools ranked in the 40-100 range might be better pickings for merit. Maybe W and L for the Johnson (but definitely not in the city)?
Any chance op is Questbridge eligible?
No, nothing special with the demographics. And not Questbridge eligible. We make a little too much for that.
Iâd echo what someone else said about taking a second look at LACs; a good-sized handful would give you a full tuition/room and board/etc need-based free ride if your assets are typical and household income is a little bit more than the Questbridge cut-off ($65,000).
Good point. If the OPâs son will consider small schools, a good many LACs guarantee full tuition grants (at a minimum) for families under a threshold ($125k, for example).
Unfortunately he is not interested in any LACs. His number one desire is to be at a big school in a big city. He has expressed that for him, the college experience is more about getting to figure out a new city and working in/socializing in the city rather than any campus life. Heâs very independent and self sufficient and thrives when he is figuring things out on his own. He actually likes the thought of sitting in a lecture hall with 500 people.
LACs seem great and I can see all the pros of that smaller environment for kids that want that. I think LACs will be a good fit for my younger children.
And yes, I know he has to broaden his search since we need so much aid, but I think he would prefer doing community college to UC rather than a small school. He could maybe transfer to UC after one year with all his DE and AP credits.
SMU? Maybe he could qualify for their Presidentâs Scholars Program?
SMU isnt a big school but Dallas is huge and has great upward mobility and career options.
SMU has a strong business alumni network which is why my D24 is considering them as a safety/target school.
He can find the big school. And get close to budget. But it might mean Tucson or Columbia SC, or Tallahassee vs NYC. Or perhaps Lexington - UK
You never know though how the need based moneys will flow at NYU, BU etc. worth a shot but you need that guarantee. Hopefully he doesnât forgo a four year school just because the city isnât big enough but of course thatâs a personal choice.