Hi so I want to ask the CSU LB financial aid office to ask if I can get any more aid, but I don’t know who to call and what to ask. Anyone know? I want to see if I can get any more aid from CSU LB and SDSU because even with loans and work study, I still have a lot to pay ($4000-ish for CSU LB and around 10K for SDSU). So does anyone have any idea who I can ask and what I should say?
Your award is based on your EFC (estimated family contribution) from FAFSA (what they think you should pay, it doesn’t matter what you think you should pay). Look over your packages and make sure you understand what different awards are, if you have more questions, call their financial aid dept and have them explain it to you (they are usually very helpful, ask about differences). However, California public schools are not going to negotiate with you like a private school or a school looking for more enrollment…it is what it is.
Agree with @1andonly: CSU’s do not negotiate financial aid. Can you list the FA received for each school? What is your EFC? Cal States do not meet need and assume costs based on if you are commuting vs. living on-campus.
Dang, really? That sucks. @Gumbymom my EFC is a grand total of $0. I posted a longer thread somewhere else that includes the FA received from most schools. Here’s the link: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/2067343-need-help-in-deciding-between-csu-lb-csu-fullerton-san-diego-state-or-mt-sac-community-college.html#latest
Assuming your EFC is 0, Cal & Fed will cover all tuition, books, school fees, etc. They will not pay for your room and board as this is assumed to be parent’s responsibility (at least in CA).
Ah, I see. Sucks that living on campus is mandatory for freshmen undergrads.
I am assuming that neither school is within commuting distance?
I’m not sure what commuting distance means but LB is about 30-40 minutes away and SDSU is about 3-4 hours away 
If LB is 30-40 minutes away…and you have a way to get back and forth…that seems like an option where you can commute from home…and it will be affordable.
I’m assuming you got the Calgrant…and then the Pell…and the Direct Loan…is that correct?
If you are within LB area for preference–You can get waiver for 1st yr living on campus at Long Beach because of proximity. Cal States were started to provide low cost to local residents.
I probably should have asked you if you are in the local service area which it seems you are for neither school so you will be required to live on campus but you can get an exemption which would make the costs more reasonable for CSULB.
From the CSULB Housing Website:::
First-time freshmen are required (as space is available) to live in University Housing during their first year at CSULB.
Research continues to show that students who live in university housing, particularly in their first year of college, have an advantage over students who do not live on campus. These advantages include greater psychosocial development, higher retention and graduation rates, greater educational aspiration and greater satisfaction with their overall college experience. In other words, they grow more personally, make friends, stay in school, are more likely to graduate and are generally happier with their collegiate experience than their classmates who commute to school.
You are NOT required to live in University Housing if you:
Are 21 years or older as of August 18, 2018
Are enrolled in 5 or fewer units (checks of your enrollment will be done throughout the semester.)
Exemption Policy
Exemptions from the requirement will be considered based upon the criteria listed below. Students must be admitted to the University, and apply for Housing, before they can submit an exemption request. All requests must be submitted online through the application portal. Appropriate supporting documentation which demonstrates the authenticity of the circumstances for which a student is requesting an exemption, can be uploaded along with the Exemption Form. Students who are under the age of 18 when appealing must also submit a letter from a parent or guardian indicating the latter’s awareness of and consent to the appeal to live off-campus. The Exemption Form will be available on our application portal on March 5, 2018.
Mistake. The UCs give much better aid.
@Mom2collegekids Do you have some statistics for this or is this your opinion, just curious?
@1andonly: Run the Net Price calculator for a UC and a CSU to see if this is true.
@gumbymom, not applying, just wondering why blanket advice is being given on aid (UC aid is better than Cal State).
@1andonly:
For the Cal States, it is assumed the student will be commuting so usually only tuition and books are covered in the FA received through Cal Grants, Pell Grants and Stafford Loans and not housing costs.
For the UC’s, besides the Cal Grants and Federal aid, there is the Blue and Gold opportunity plan and the Middle Class Scholarships available for lower income students. These will usually cover all tuition, books and some to most of the housing costs depending upon EFC.
@Gumbymom, what is Blue and Gold opportunity plan and middle class scholarships?
@1andonly:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/glossary/middle-class-scholarship/index.html
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/glossary/blue-and-gold/index.html
The middle class scholarship can be variable due to funding and in recent years was in jeopardy of being discontinued.
Okay, so just read Blue and Gold, they do not cover room and board, although are generous with tuition and fees. This is same as the states. Grants at Cal Poly Slo are running close to 14k (9k tuition), not sure if much difference.
@1andonly: It will vary from school to school and for each student’s financial situation. Some UC’s tend to be more generous than others which could be said for the Cal states which is why it is a good idea to apply widely and to a variety of schools if you are looking for good FA.