Hi there, I am living at a dorm and Financial aid is covering my housing and tuition except for 2,000$. Would it be smart to move into an apartment instead for next year? Or would it be smarter to just stay in the dorm? Living off campus my rent would be 435$ which is much cheaper than my dorms but I understand that when you decide to move off campus financial aid lowers the amount they will give you. So I’m not sure if it would be smarter to just stay in my dorm or move out? Also, privacy isn’t a problem for me I would be sharing a room in both situations.
According to the Cost of Attendance, there is approximately a difference of $6374 if you live on vs. off campus. Since you are receiving FA, then you need to take this amount into consideration since you will not receive more than the stated cost estimate by UCD.
Cost estimate for on campus: $16,136
Cost estimate for off campus: $9,792
You also have to add in meals to your off campus expenses along with commuting costs if taking a car (parking).
I would check the FA office and have the run some numbers to help you make a more informed decision.