By Stats I meant GPA. You noted your ACT already.
EFC is the estimated family contribution, when you fill out the FAFSA it will generate a number that tells you how much (the minimum) your family is expected to be able to pay for. It may break it out into both a Student contribution or just a family one. That number is what is looked at when determining if you qualify for any financial aid.
Aid comes in 2 forms. Merit (scholarships) and Grants. Grans are based on need. State schools (most schools) do not meet full need.
So for example, if your EFC is $10,000
North Dakota Cost of Attendance (206-17 school year)
Tuition $8137
Room and Board $7,630
Books and Supplies $1000
Total Cost of Attendance (COA)(not including any additional personal or travel expenses) is $16,767 for 2017.
The 2018 rates will likely be slightly higher.
IF your EFC was $10,000 then the offer would look something like this
COA $15,767
EFC - $10,000
=“Need” $5767
- max federal student loans $5500
= $10,267 additional needed (EFC + remainder after student loan), PLUS books and personal expenses.
If that was the scenario, the largest grant you would be offered, if any, unless you had scholarships, is $267.00. This is because they will typically offer you loans before any grants. In this scenario your “need” would allow you to qualify for the maximum subsidized federal loan of $3500 and then an unsubsidized loan of $2000. BUT you’d still have to come up with that 10K shortfall.
Books and personal expenses don’t count for most schools when they figure out aid, they just look at tuition, fees, room and board. Which means basically most schools expect you to come up with that at a minimum. Often that can be covered by summer savings if you can find a job.
However, depending on your GPA, if it is above a 3.5 weighted AND you applied to North Dakota before the priority deadline, it is likely you’ll be offered a scholarship, either $1,000 or $2,500 annually depending on your gpa (based on the 30 ACT).
http://und.edu/admissions/undergraduate/costs-and-aid/scholarships.cfm
there are also state specific scholarships you may have qualified for
http://www.ndus.edu/students/paying-for-college/grants-scholarships/#NDSP
In that scenario, again assuming a 10K EFC, you could be looking at a package that looks like this
COA $15,767
University Scholarship -$2,500
North Dakota Academic Scholarships $1500 NEED TO APPLY https://www.nd.gov/dpi/uploads/204/directions.pdf
North Dakota State Student Incentive Grant Program - $1950 as long as you listed your ND HS on your FAFSA you should qualify for this one
Adjusted COA $9.817
EFC - $10,000
=“need” = 0
- student loans $5500
= $4,317 additional needed for direct costs. Plus books and personal expenses.
Your family’s EFC has to be really really low (like close to 0) to qualify for additional grant funds (Pell) and your mom’s grad school debt is not considered as a factor. If income has drastically changed since 2015 based on the furlough/retirement you can contact your schools to file a special circumstances form (when did your dad retire?) but I’d figure out what the EFC looks like without your dad’s income first to see if it would make much of a difference.
Please bear in mind these are suggestions. Contact the University Financial Aid office or have your HS GC help, it is unclear if the awards are stackable but they appear to be.
IF you were to take a gap year, and work full time, assuming you could find full time employment, it is not unreasonable to think you could save the 15K-17K needed to cover 2 years of out of pocket costs in the no scholarships at all scenario. Full time at $10 an hour, living at home. Delay your start longer and you can save more.
It’s not pretty, it’s not ideal but your instate option is very likely one of the best deals around, that is very very low compared to most state options.
IF the scholarships as outlined above come through, you could theoretically save 2K over the summer and then get an on campus job during the year to cover the remainder.
If you haven’t already, use this tool and it should give you an estimate as to what they might offer you.
http://und.edu/admissions/financial-aid/financial-aid-estimator/index.php
Based on your ACT score, given the state you are in, it is possible you will qualify for full tuition. It just really depends on how other kids in your date did and whether you fall in the 95th percentile for your state or not.
North Dakota Scholars Program
This program provides merit-based, full-tuition scholarships to qualifying North Dakota high school graduates who choose to earn undergraduate degrees in North Dakota.
Amount: The amount of the scholarship is equal to the tuition rate charged at the scholar’s institution, not to exceed the highest regular resident undergraduate tuition rate in the North Dakota University System. Scholars may receive the award for nor more than eight semesters or twelve quarters of full-time undergraduate study, or until the attainment of a baccalaureate degree, whichever occurs first. Scholarships will be sent directly to the institution the student is attending.
Who is eligible for consideration: High school students who score at or above the ninety-fifth percentile among those who took the ACT prior to July 1st in the calendar year preceding the individual’s enrollment in college will be considered for the award. Students will be awarded in descending rank order until available funds are expended or until the pool of applicants has been exhausted. Additional eligibility information is available in NDUS Procedure 500.2
How to apply: Take the ACT Assessment prior to July 1 in the calendar year preceding the student’s full-time enrollment in college. No separate application is required.