<p>hey cc...
I heard that if you go to college out of your state, you automatically miss out on any state grants and scholarships you would have gotten if you went to college in your own state... is this true/false?</p>
<p>It probably depends on the grant or scholarship. Many need based State grants are only for students that stay in state - for instance The State grants I know of off hand - Florida bright futures, Cal grant, and the grant in our home state are only available to instate students that attend school in state. You would need to check with your State for their rules</p>
<p>With scholarships it would depend on the terms of the scholarship. If it is awarded by the State it is fairly likely that it is for students staying instate. Our State has a merit scholarship that is a combination of an institutional tuition waiver and a cash scholarship from the State. It can be used at private or public schools in state but would not be useable out of State. </p>
<p>Again you would need to check in your State.</p>
<p>Thanks. I live in Pennsylvania, can you point me in the right direction as to where to call to find out?</p>
<p>Google is your friend :)</p>
<p>PHEAA</a> - Pennsylvania State Grant Program FAQ</p>
<p>question 17 looks relevant to your question and gives contact information.</p>
<p>Happened to me. Michigan decided during the winter of my senior year - past all application deadlines - that the scholarships given for decent performance on the MEAP exam were all of a sudden only eligible for in-state public schools. Before the change you could use the money you earned at any accredited university.</p>
<p>Way to screw over anybody who hadn't already applied to an in-state public, Granholm.</p>
<p>Here's another example: We are from Minnesota; oldest son attends in Wisconsin. He is ineligible for a state grant in Wisconsin (and obviously can't get a Minnesota grant.) In addition, there is now a $1200 ACHIEVE scholarship offered to students in Minnesota who complete a rigorous curriculum in high school, but it can only be used if you attend an in-state school. Fortunately for me my younger son is attending in Minnesota and is receiving State Grant and ACHIEVE Scholarship.</p>
<p>But he should only have to pay Wisconsin the equivalent of Minnesota tuition because of the reciprocity agreement.</p>
<p>Yes, we do have reciprocity. He couldn't have afforded the out-of-state tuition otherwise.</p>
<p>PA - wow. you will lose if you attend school in MD, NY, NJ -</p>
<p>At other states your state grant will be greatly reduced.
My youngest is attending college in MD - she lost her state grant BUT.....
financial aid and her merit scholarship made this school cheaper than Penn State with financial aid.<br>
While you lose - you may not lose much.</p>
<p>Do find an in-state school that you like and apply there - for a financial backup.</p>
<p>Certain state grants can go with you IF your major field is not offered in your home state. For example, in the past Maryland students have taken state money to Pennsylvania to study meteorology. This is related to the inter-state tuition agreements for major fields that exist in one state but not in another. Check with your HS counselor to find what states your home state has agreements with, and what is covered.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I was looking at Purdue University in Indiana for Computer/Electrical Engineering. It looks surprisingly easy to get into for a school that ranks ninth on the "Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs" list. Kind of happy I discovered it/looked into it. I'm gonna call the PHAA regional office tomorrow and see what they say.</p>
<p>Thanks very much, all of your posts have been very helpful. Good to know that people are willing to help others who are only starting out with their college plans. A lot of people are in the dark and have no idea about all of their options until the last minute or until they've already decided</p>
<p>You will probably get a State grant of about $350 - $400. If you have need. sorry.</p>
<p>PA actually reduced their state grants this year - the execs were skimming off the top and there is less money to go around.
My d's state grant to a school in NC is less than about $350. Last year she got $400.</p>
<p>From the PHEAA website:</p>
<p>
[quote]
* In-state: While the current formula provides for awards up to $4,700 while attending an approved Pennsylvania institution, currently, the State Grant Program does not have sufficient resources to fully fund this amount. Therefore, adjustments to bring awards within the funding level are necessary. (Note: Annually, the maximum award is dependent upon available funding and subject to review and adjustment.)
* Out-of-state: The current formula provides for maximum out-of-state grant awards of up to $400 (up to $600 if enrolled in a school located in a state that permits their students to carry their state grants to Pennsylvania) for non-veteran students for 2008-09. Veterans are eligible for maximum out-of-state awards of up to $800. Currently, the State Grant Program does not have sufficient resources to fully fund these award levels. Therefore, adjustments to bring awards within the funding level are necessary.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That seems pretty harsh...</p>
<p>We also got surprised by PHEAA for our state Grant, they requested copies of our Tax Forms & W-2's for verification, then lowered the amount dramatically ( from about $3100/year down to $1600/yr )</p>
<p>They dis-allowed our pre-tax dollars which were withheld for my medical and dental plans. They said there was nothing on my W-2 to indicate what it was for. The wording about it is very difficult to understand in their paperwork so even though I'm trying to get a letter from my employer to send to them to explain what the pre-tax (untaxed) income was for - I'm not sure I understand them, whether the medical pre-tax amounts are OK but the retirement pretax dollars aren't - or manybe it's visa-versa....I'm still not sure if we can get the grant money back again.</p>
<p>Maybe someone else understands the wording or has sent the explanation letter to PHEAA and can help us. For others in PA - be forewarned.</p>
<p>My daughter also missed out on MI's merit scholarship. The year before she graduated, $1000 of the possible $3000 could be used out of state. Her year, the scholarship was changed to a possible $4000 ... and no money could be used out of state. To make things worse, when she decided she might like to take a summer class & use some of the money, we found out that she could not. She had to have picked an in state school the November of her senior year to use it the next summer ... never mind that she didn't even apply to MI schools, or that she had no clue she might want to use it in the summer ... especially since in November, the state was still saying $1000 could go out of state. They keep changing the rules, and it's hard to keep up.</p>