going to college far from home

I live on the east coast and am considering some colleges in California, but my family is worried about the cost of flying. I was wondering if travel costs are considered by colleges in determining financial aid, or if anyone knows of scholarships for travel fees or other ways to help pay for travel costs.

Are you considering public or private universities? CA is an expensive place to go for college if you’re an OOS student.

We live in the northeast and have a student attending (private) school in CA so I can only speak to my small slice of experience with her merit-based aid. The cost of travel was not a stated component of her package. They did tack on some additional merit aid to her scholarship and I’ve always wondered if it was a little incentive intended to cover travel costs, but we’ll never know and I’m just grateful to have it. Flights round trip from Boston to LAX have ranged from $200 to $350, but are higher at Thanksgiving. I don’t know how other airports compare to that.

What’s your budget?
What sort of colleges?
(If UC’s, then plane tickets costs are the last of your worries. If Pomona, they’ll include that in the financial aid package if you qualify).
Have you run the NPC on all your potential colleges?

Our DD is at college in CA this year and we are in the Midwest. It IS a factor. There is no such thing as a discount cross country flight. Costs vary, so shop around, but your travel times will be during peak $$$ times (Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break). Our school gave merit aid but no specific consideration for travel. Actually, when they let students out early before Thanksgiving., it was a huge burden. We had already bought flights early to save money, so when professors made these last minute surprises, the out of state flying kids either had to pay MUCHO $$$ to change their flights and have a few extra days at home, or stay and be sad while everyone else got extra break days. Grrr. So if you go…tip…ask all of your professors up front what the last day of required classes will be before breaks, so that you can book your flights earliest for the cheapest flights.

Also, if you are using any 529 funds, travel costs are NOT qualified expenses.

Yu could make a budget for your travel costs. However, the surprise for us was also the cost of buying everything there since you can’t drive to move in, shipping was super expensive (shipping a pillow was more expensive than buying new), and the general way higher cost of living in CA…for stuff like toiletries, meals out, entertainment. We’ll have summer storage costs as well.
Also, something that caught us by surprise this year was the East Coast storms and flying…your trip home for Christmas could be majorly impacted…just something to keep in mind and try to be prepared for (DD was visiting her BF on the East Coast, and due to the cyclone could not get OUT of the East Coast and almost was late getting back to school after break and it was all very stressful).

Not trying to talk you out of this but it is an important thing to consider.

If the cost of flying is an issue, OOS schools should be off the list. Especially California. Base your list on cost and stats. Take fantasies out of the equation. As one assumes you are a junior or younger, make sure your test scores and GPA are as good as possible.
What are your stats now? And how much can your parents pay? What is your home state?

One of my kids went to college in CA from 2006 to 2010. When she started…flights from San Jose to Hartford were $99 each way. By the time she graduated, they were closer to $200 each way.

She came home only for the December break and for part of the summer. We did not fly her home for Thanksgiving or the spring break…ever. Just too much money. She knew that when she accepted the offer to attend.

We, fortunately, have relatives not far from her college in CA, and she spent Thanksgiving with them each year…and 2 of the 4 spring breaks. The other two, she did service programs from her college.

So…do consider the cost of travel, how many times a year you are willing to pay for these trips…and keep in mind, the costs aren’t going to go down.

My DD’s college does include an average cost for travel in the COA and factors it into financial aid. We’re from CA and she’s in NY and I believe the estimate is $1200/year. I can afford to fly her home for only Christmas and summer. I have to pay for flights, baggage, and Uber/Lyft/taxi.