Recently as a 1st year community college student my family has reached a road block. In total my parents income came to about $200,000 last year in 2019 this is due to the fact that my mother is a nurse working two jobs at different hospitals and is the main source of income whilst my father is a driver that doesn’t contribute much. Also, my younger brother is a year under and will be attending CC at the same time as me next semester. I think our EFC is around $50,000 and I’m trying to get into SJSU for their animation program. I was wondering if anyone can give me some tips to getting aid? Could my family be considered as financial need if two dependents are attending college around the same time and have only one stable income?
Have you run the net price calculator at:
https://vpsaweb2.sjsu.edu/faso/netpricecalc/npcalc.htm
(This is different from the FAFSA EFC; it is college-specific.)
Have you read the financial aid brochure at:
http://www.sjsu.edu/faso/docs/FA_Brochure_2020-21.pdf
SJSU appears to favor need-based aid over merit aid. Certainly having two kids in college will help you appear “needier”, but with your parents’ high income - and possibly transfer students not being at the front of the line for aid - you probably won’t get substantial aid. The NPC should give you a better idea.
SJSU does not guarantee to meet full need for all accepted students. With a family income of $200,000 a year, you would not qualify for a CalGrant even with two in college. The bulk of need based funding at CA public universities is the Calgrant.
Since you are at a community college, go and talk to the transfer advisor there. Explain your financial constraints.
Can your parents pay anything towards your college costs?
Do you have a job? If not…get one…and save save save.
FAFSA and colleges don’t consider whether the income comes from one parent or two. They don’t consider whether the income is “stable” or not…tho it sounds like your mom has 2 stable incomes.
Your dad is a driver “who doesn’t contribute much.” Maybe talk to him about ways to bring in more income since your family will not receive aid. Maybe he can drive Uber or Lyft on an off day?
Also you and your sibling probably need to get jobs during the summer and during the school year.
Your income is way too high to qualify for Cal grants or Pell grants. You can run the NCPs on schools websites to see this.