How do I pay for school?

Hello everyone, so I’m a little confused on how I going to pay for school. So I am 22 and have been taking classes for the last 2 years or so at a local CC. I got accepted into an engineering program at a branch campus school. I am considered an independent student because I had lost both parents when I was younger. Well I had just spoke with someone from the schools FA office and she was trying to give me an idea of the FA package I should get for the next school year. Tuition is around $17k a year and my package estimation is around 18k. That still leaves me with room an board and other living expenses. I don’t have great credit myself and more than likely wont get a co-signer for anything.

Does anyone have any ideas or can point me into the right direction or anything?

Thank you!!

So sorry to hear that you’ve lost both your parents.

What school is this? How much is the public univ near your home? a branch campus has tuition that is $17k per year?? What state are you in?

What exactly is in your FA pkg.

I guess you really need to keep looking until you find one you can pay for or which will cover your costs better.
Since you are a transfer it can be hard to get a lot of aid if your state uni’s don’t give it. Also you should apply for any outside scholarships that you are eligible for. Look for scholarships for engineering students and scholarships for students in foster care or whatever your situation was.

Are there already loans in your package? You should qualify for student loan at the independent rate without needing a cosigner That will be 12,500 per year.

Im in PA, the school is Penn State Erie campus. There really isnt many schools in the area that have engineering programs and if they do then its usually a 2+2 with Pitt. My aid package consist of Pell grant for $4965, PA State Grant $3594, PS Academic Grant for $1200, Sub loan for 3500, and unsub for 6000.

I’m not really sure what to do or what my options are. I am almost tapping out of what classes I can take at my CC.

May I ask how you pay for your room and board now?

Do you have any relatives who would help you out?

How much is room and board and do you currently work?

Did you have income from Social security based on the death of your parents? Is that in savings somewhere and showing as an asset?

^^ he’s getting full Pell, I dont think he has any assets.

Talk to the financial aid office. They might have ideas about free living situations. RA at a dorm, apartment manager, church caretaker, houseboy at a sorority.

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Tuition is around $17k a year and my package estimation is around 18k. T


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that sounds like full Pell (about $5700) plus full jr year independent student loan (about $11,500)

If the student was getting social security, which would have ended about 4 years ago, it’s unlikely the student would have any of that money now. He likely used in real time, and/or over the last four years.

I’m guessing that the student was attending a low cost CC over the last 2-4 years…and he may not have many Pell semesters left.

@jsk412 How many semesters have you gone to school so far? How much have you borrowed so far? If you’ve been going to school for 3+ years, you may soon max out of loans and Pell.

@kelsmom How many semesters of Pell can a student get now?

Tuition and fees should be about $14,000
You have $9,759 worth of grants

So you need about $4,200 for PSU Erie and money for books, food and housing

Will you have 60 credits when you transfer? As a junior independent student you should be able to borrow up to $12,500 in federal student loans.

Where do you live now, are you close enough to commute? Can you share an apartment with a roommate?

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types/grants-scholarships/pell/calculate-eligibility

Currently I live with my sister and work part time. She does okay but just had a baby last summer so my brother in law became a stay at home so I don’t think there’s gonna be much if any help.

I got an email yesterday from PSU regarding documents about my parents. I doubt that after I send everything in it will change my package.

Commuting is out of the question. Its about an hour and a half or so each way.

I have a little bit saved up and I plan on working in the summer but the lady I spoke with from the FA office told me I made a lot of money last year for a 22 year old, which was under 13k. So I’m almost worried about making more money.

I dont understand how people can get higher packages for school. I should have around 60 credits that will transfer and I am taking more this summer. I don’t know exactly how that works since I’m doing engineering and a good bit of the classes would be just what i assume is a general elective of some sort.

The only options I can think of would be if some miracle happened and there was actually a grant or something for students in my situation. My great aunt who basically raised me said that she would cosign for a loan for me. I feel horrible for even thinking about asking here but shes the closest thing I have to a parent. The last option which seems more realistic is just being done after this semester.

From Penn State Erie website they have COA at 30k or so. How does one actually get their need fully met?

This is making me so stressed out that I cant even focus on my upcoming exams and finals.

You just need to find an affordable living situation close to campus.

Did you read my other post? You don’t have to pay the COA. It includes estimates for misc expenses that are not billed by the university.

PSU Erie will bill you about $7,000 a semester for tuition and fees

Then you will need a few hundred for books which you can buy used or rent.

If you work this summer and get a work study job on campus you can pay for some of your living costs.

Federal work study income won’t count against your EFC.

Look for apartments near campus, someone looking for a roommate, that should be a few hundred a month.

And like we said you can take loans of up to $12,500. That is in addition to the almost $10k of grants you got.

So I guess my biggest issue is housing. I’m assuming getting an apartment off campus is going to be cheaper than on campus. What I am worried about is finding someone to room with. I don’t know anyone up there but one of my friends at school right now is more than likely going to transfer up there as well but he is looking to wait until next fall. Would getting a meal plan be worth it? I’m fine with cooking for myself.

What about any utilities or rent? Don’t loans go out after like 60 days from the start of classes?

Work Study is just basically another name for a job right? I was a peer tutor in my schools math tutoring area last fall. I actually enjoyed it but mainly because on 2 of the nights I got paid to get help with my own work because it was so slow. If that is an option then I would be more than happy to do a work study again. I am just worried about if it would take away from my studies.

A federal work study job on campus would give you some extra money, most students work 5-10 hrs a week.

You would be starting in the fall, right? You can work this summer and save up some money and look for a place
to live there. Maybe they have a list of students looking for a roommate?

http://psbehrend.psu.edu/student-life/housing-and-residence-life/off-campus-housing

That is what I am planning to do.

Since I still have to submit these documents to the FA office what are the chances that I would get any additional aid or support of any kind?

I was always told growing up that because of my situation I wouldn’t have to worry about any of this

Did you look into any other Public PA unis? Slippery Rock U uition and fees are about $9500 per year , same with West Chester U. I don’t know your major, but both schools have a decent reputation academically. I live close to West Chester and the campus and town are really nice and many students from our area attend. The application deadline for fall transfers to WCU is June 1. There may be other more affordable PA schools closer to you as well. Seems like PSU is pricier than some of your other IS options.

All the schools around my area don’t have their own engineering programs. They’re all part of a 3/2 with I believe either PSU or UPitt. I have already gone through trying to transfer into Pitt and wasn’t able to get into their main campus which is basically the only one with an engineering program. Actually last fall I was visiting the branch I got into and one of the admissions lady flat out told me look elsewhere because I guess they rarely took any of the transfer students from there.