FINANCIAL AID AWARD QUESTION? (ABOUT ROOM & BOARD)

<p>So I will be transferring to CSU Long Beach and I received my ESTIMATED financial aid award.
When I applied for Fafsa I put that I would be living off campus, yet in my estimated financial aid award, under "Estimated Cost of Attendance" there are categories, "Tuition, Room and Board, Books/Supplies, etc." (Kinda like the college board thing)
Under Room and Board category, it says around $12,138
DO they know im not living on campus and just put that???
Or do they actually plan on charging me $12k for not even living on campus?? o_o</p>

<p>Your best bet is to call the FA office to make sure that they are aware that you will be living off campus.</p>

<p>Your estimated award is not a bill. It lays out the costs that you will have, and shows the financial aid awards against that cost. 12.138 is the estimated cost of living off campus not with parents, for the purpose of awarding financial aid, as shown here
<a href=“Financial Aid and Scholarships | California State University Long Beach”>Financial Aid and Scholarships | California State University Long Beach;

<p>You will not be billed for that. Your billable costs will be your tuition and fees of 6,420. Likewise they do not bill the books etc, that is just an estimate of what they think you will need to spend. Clear?</p>

<p>the thing that you must keep in mind is just be cause you have an estimated award letter stating that you are receiving money to cover your off campus room and board, you will need some actual money to pay the upfront costs when it comes to getting an apartment. Your landlord will most likely expect first/last months rent and security deposit.</p>

<p>Some school may have a different CoA if you live offcampus, but some don’t. If you are not a commute student, the room/board cost (on campus or off campus) would be part of the CoA. My nephrew move to off campus apartment after freshmen year trying to save some money. However, the CoA was reduced more than the money he could save from lower rent. At the end, he need to pay more out of his pocket.</p>

<p>I provided the link that shows 3 scenarios for CSULB. Commuter, on campus and off campus. For LB, the off campus COA is slightly more than the on campus rate so billcsho comments do not apply here.</p>

<p>Yeah. My nephew is going to another school.</p>