One of my kids went to a school with a mandatory meal plan for freshmen. Two options, same price. (one with dining bucks)
Other had several options and we took the lowest, but then she joined a sorority and they had just one option.
NJ state schools are on the more expensive sides vs other states. It seems from reading through here the OP never states what he is willing to pay if anything. As stated here kids can really only borrow the fed loan of $5500 by themselves, everything else is a parent co sign or a parent plus loan which IIRC you start paying back right away. Rowen and NJIT have had the reputation of being more generous with aid as it Stocken, TCNJ and Rutgers NB not so much. The Op states his 6 instate schools the lowest merit aid he got was 15k, so 30K minus 15k leaves 15K a year to find money for, a fed loan is $5500 to start so this leaves under 10K, move off campus as soon as possible to save cost and take the lowest meal plan you can while on campus( most kids have extra swipes and can swipe you in as needed at RU. Also the OP does not say anything about FA just merit. FA comes out later than merit aid usually late March. With some FA he may end up being the average kid with 33K in debt.
So OP we need more info form you to help, have you filled out a Fasfa , I assume yes but do not know if NJ tag and Pell grants are part of that. What does the NPC say for your EFC, can you contribute anything for his college?
Stockton should give him like 18 grand a year.
If you take the cheapest housing and meal plans it doesnt cost much on top of the fed loans.
Please note the OP was asking for a 2020 student and the college choice will already be long past. Closing thread.
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