my efc isn’t low enough to get pell grants and all that but you also don’t have a bunch of money to pay upfront. i got some scholarships which are gonna help me but middle-class families have it the most difficult…
If you earn around $50k, just over the limit for Pell more or less,then you are likely eligible for financial aid directly from the college, depending on the college.
Is this a venting post or are you looking for suggestions/help?
“middle class” means different things to different people.
Your parents never saved up anything for your college? You may need to look for colleges that give merit aid.
We never saved a dime for college…not one dime. But we were a two income professional,couple and anticipated paying for college using one income earners salary…which we did.
Many…probably MOST kids don’t have college savings accounts…and neither do their parents.
The OP needs to discuss college finances with their parents…and look for affordable options.
Middle class could be a $50,000 a year salary…or it could be $200,000 a year. We don’t know what this family financial situation really is.
I didn’t save anything for my D’s college either as the plan was A) scholarships or B) she’d attend one of our excellent state flagships, which I could comfortably cash flow. Not everyone saves.
OP needs to look for merit, start at a CC, or apply to schools with great financial aid (if he/she has the stats). CC is a bubble. Many middle class students don’t go away to college immediately, if at all. It is what it is.
Husband and I didn’t save either. But we got to the point where we could afford college since the two of us were working. We paid tuition as we went along… with a huge chunk of my salary going to the bursar’s office.
@katliamom yep…that’s what we did too!!
All of my salary went to our kids U, as well as a big chunk of H’s. It is challenging and folks who want to save funds do what they can, including going to CCollege for a few years, commuting, whatever it takes. It is definitely tough to stretch funds, especially if there are several kids (and sometimes parents) going to school.
Well, honestly…if the family income is $50K or less its pretty darn hard to run a household and pay for college, this I know from personal experience. I thankfully put a little each month away starting when my student was born and it has helped immensely. No, its not hundreds of thousands but enough after merit and student loans to not have to do parent loans.
Anyhoo, if you are truly low - middle income, you need to first start with your state school and see what the COA is there. Depending on your scores, you might be in line for one of the 100% need met schools but they are looking for stats around the 31+/1400+. Then there’s merit aid. Look at schools where you fall significantly higher than their average scores. Many schools give $25K or more depending again on scores.
The OP has not stated what his “middle class” income is.
I have to disagree with the statement “middle class families have it the most difficult” in regards to pretty much anything…
^Well, again, “middle class” means different things to different people. I consider myself middle class and yet by most standards I would be considered low income. Not only is it subjective to the public eye but to the family itself. All depends on how you define the struggle.
Not getting Pell grants doesn’t necessarily mean zero financial aid. Many schools have institutional need and/or merit aid as well. Most families don’t have unlimited college funds. You are not alone.
Everybody thinks somebody else is getting tons of free money. It’s basically not true, except for very poor kids with very high stats who get into elite colleges and scholarship programs.
In another thread you said your parents earn $70k. I assume that’s the gross for both. You said you have to pay ~$14k/year. Is that before applying the federal student loan after? Can your parents afford this college?