Say I’m filling out my FAFSA financial aid in Pennsylvania and I want to go to college in New York, would colleges in NY consider my application, and would they provide less aid because I’m out-of-state?
I’m super confused about the college process and there are so many questions I want to ask. One more thing I’m wondering is how does living in campus work, and is it worth it to go to college out of state?
Anyone have experience with this type of thing?
For all of the colleges you are looking at run their online net price calculators to estimate your cost of attendance. Also look to see what each college requires re: financial aid application. Most public schools only require FAFSA to apply for fin aid, many private schools require FAFSA and CSS Profile.
For public colleges, generally OOS students pay higher tuition and yes, many also provide less aid to OOS students.
Create your college list based on the factors that appeal to you as well as what your family can afford to pay per year. Only you and your family can decide whether it is ‘worth it’ to go to college OOS.
If you post the colleges on your list CC’ers will be able to provide more advice.
FAFSA is federal; it doesn’t matter if you go to college out of state. They are federal funds. Out of state schools will get that information to use when deciding your financial aid package. Some schools will also require a CSS, which is a more in-depth financial reporting.
There are plenty of great schools in PA, going out of state is a preference. You need to look at your budget and see what you can afford.
Two types of college: publicly funded and privately funded, and you can use FAFSA for both.
Publicly funded (such as Pennsylvania State University and State University of New York, among many others) charge lower tuition for in-state students (because part of state taxes go to subsidize tuition). Financial aid offerings may also be different for instate and out of state (OOS) students- if so that will be spelled out on the college website.
Private colleges, such as UPenn and NYU, charge the same no matter where you are from (because they don’t get direct financial support from state taxes).
Both types of colleges will consider your application. Some public universities give a preference to instate applicants, and some limit the % of out of state students they will take, but they all take some.
College housing varies a lot by college. Most colleges offer student housing. Many- but not all- require first years to live on campus; at smaller colleges often most students live in college housing all four years; at larger universities, many live off campus for most/all of their college years.
There is nothing magic about going out of state- or away (depending where you live in PA, OH, MD, NY, DE or NJ might be closer than Erie, Pittsburgh, Scranton or Philly!). There are a lot of variables- what you want from your college experience, what’s affordable, etc. Emphasis on the affordable!
What colleges in ny are you considering? SUNY schools? Or what?
What colleges in PA are you considering?
The key thing is…can your family pay the net costs for you to attend. This is the cost of attendance minus any aid you receive.
The public universities in NY and PA do not meet full need for all accepted students.
If your parents are married, don’t own real estate in addition to your primary residence, and are not self employed or business owners…run the Net Price Calculators for all of the colleges you are interested in. You will need 2018 income tax return info from your parents plus their current asset balances to do these. If you enter accurate info, you will at least get a decent estimate of your net costs at each college.
Then ask your parents what they can afford to pay annually.
NYS publics cost $30k/year for out of state students. And OOS students shouldn’t expect any aid from the SUNY schools.
Actually, some SUNY schools do give merit aid to very high achieving applicants. But yes, their first mission is to provide for the students who reside in state.
The instate cost for Penn State is about the same as the OOS cost for SUNY schools.
The big question is…how much can the parents actually pay?
Which OOS schools are you applying to?
OOS publics charge more because your family doesn’t pay taxes there.
Some may give you merit if your stats are high enough.
But generally speaking, an OOS public doesn’t give need based aid to OOS students. There are a few exceptions.
-FAFSA is a federal form. One FAFSA for all colleges, regardless of state.
-Private colleges – Financial aid does not differ based on your state of residence.
-Public colleges – IN GENERAL: 1) Tuition is cheaper (even without financial aid) for residents of the state. 2) In-state residents get better financial aid at their own in-state public colleges/universities.
These are the public 4-year colleges/universities in your home state of Pennsylvania:
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
Lock Haven University
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Penn State Abington
Penn State Altoona
Penn State Beaver
Penn State Berks
Penn State Brandywine
Penn State Dubois
Penn State Erie Behrend College
Penn State Fayette Eberly Campus
Penn State Greater Allegheny
Penn State Harrisburg
Penn State Hazleton
Penn State Lehigh Valley
Penn State Mont Alto
Penn State New Kensington
Penn State Schuylkill
Penn State Shenango
Penn State Wilkes Barre
Penn State Worthington Scranton
Penn State York
Penn State Main Campus
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Temple University
University of Pittsburgh Bradford
University of Pittsburgh Greensburg
University of Pittsburgh Johnstown
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Here’s a list of all the public colleges in New York (not including the city universities in NYC):
https://www.suny.edu/attend/visit-us/complete-campus-list/
When you live on campus, you live in a dormitory owned by the university. What kind of questions do you have about it?
Is it worth it? Not sure what you mean by that. There is nothing inherently different or special about a college that is not in your own state. Some colleges in your state might be better suited to you and more affordable than some colleges outside your state. Or vice versa. You should go to one that suits your interests and desires and that you can afford.