I am a community college student looking to transfer to a four-year university in the Fall of 2021. Ideally, I would like to enroll at a SLAC or private university with an undergraduate enrollment between 2500 and 7000. As I am researching different schools, I am running into a common theme: “need-based aid for transfer students is limited.” Are there any schools with need blind admissions or who met 100% of demonstrated need (without loans or with minimal loans) for transfers?
We were just told by a school that they capped the need aid for transfer students. Not just for the 1st year, but for every year, even for a student transferring in as a freshman with zero credit. If this information had been publicized the student would not have applied since the student/family is financing 100% of unmet need. The student was able to get into Selective School as a transfer, but can now not attend. And we know other students in same situation that got accepted as Freshmen to same school but have huge aid packages so it’s frustrating and so sad. The college system in the USA is broken. Hope you have better luck!
Need based aid may be limited, but my d has been doing well with merit aid in her transfer apps. (We don’t qualify for need-based aid). You will need to look at schools where you are in the top of their applicant pool. What is your budget, and what geographic area are you looking at?
@taverngirl I would like to graduate with no more than $50k in loan debt. I’m from Pennsylvania so I’m looking at schools in the Northeast.
@cognitivediscord What is your major? What is your current GPA? What can you afford per year?
@mlwin33 when you say
what do you mean? … a freshman transferring in the second semester, after attending a different school in the fall? … a student coming out of high school who did dual enrollment? I am curious, because, my understanding is that in the case of the latter, the student would be treated like a freshman for aid purposes.
@cognitivediscord each school will have different policies on aid for transfer students. In what state do you live? How far away from home are you able to travel for college? What do you want to study? Posters may be able to make suggestions of schools that have aid for transfers that meet your criteria.
@taverngirl I’m a psychology major with a 4.0 at a community college. I’m looking for a school that will cost me $25k a year or less after grants and scholarships.
@KatMT I live in Pennsylvania. I would like to stay on the east coast, preferably 8 hours or less away from home, though I could be flexible on this. I’m studying psychology.
Hitting $25k could be difficult. Is that what you can afford to pay with loans or before loans? Look into some of the Colleges That Change Lives, such as Allegheny, Juniata, Ursinus, Muhlenberg, etc. You should be eligible for $25-$30k in merit at those institutions.
@cognitivediscord what is your EFC? Are you Pell Eligible?
Not private, but St. Mary’s College of MD, University of Mary Washington, and I think College of NJ offer transfer scholarships, and maybe could get your costs close to $25,000 if combined with full Pell, and Federal Loans.
Where in PA are you? Are there any LACs close enough to commute from home?