<p>I got a great financial aid package from USF, including work study, and small grants. I know many schools inflate their cost of attendance by including personal expenses, cost of computers, phone bills, etc. USF offered me a small loan, but I'm not sure if it's neccessary, so my question is: How much does USF really cost? Can I get by with maybe 15,000?</p>
<p>Depends a lot on where you’re going to be living. If you have to live on campus the first year it will be much more expensive than if you lived off campus. Living off campus now, I spend only 80% annually of what I was paying on campus after taking into account bills you don’t have to pay while living on campus, like internet, cable, and electricity, and that’s with an additional 3 months of payments since I live in it year round instead of going home for the summer. But even when I lived on campus, $17,000 in aid plus Florida prepaid was enough for me to cover everything and have a little bit left over. I lived in expensive housing though (Holly and Magnolia), so if you go somewhere cheaper $15,000 might be enough if you budget your money well.</p>
<p>$15,000 should be plenty for two semesters if you don’t have auto expenses and don’t buy a health insurance policy through USF. If you run all around Tampa partying and eating in restaurants every night and blowing money you’ll need more. I’d hold off on turning down loan offer though until any tuition and Bright Futures changes are finalized. Too, keep in mind that if you turn down work-study this year, USF probably won’t offer it to you next year even if you are still eligible–they have limited funds which are first come first served.</p>
<p>in mine it says around $20,000 for instate a year.</p>
<p>and maybe it is somewhat $30,000 for OOS…</p>
<p>My entire cost for this year was $12,718. I lived in the cheapest housing possible, and the meal plan was $3,620, but you can’t go lower in the meal plan unless you live in an apartment-style.</p>
<p>Looks like tuition in total will go up 15% next fall and Bright Futures awards down 20% according to below linked news story. Legislature hasn’t finalized budget yet though, Board of Governors hasn’t approved (rubber stamped) tuition increases, and new governor Scott might grandstand and veto any legislature approved budget, so things are still up in the air for next year as far as fees. I’d hang on to loan offer for now until the dust has settled!</p>
<p>[College</a> tuition to rise, Bright Futures to drop - Legislature - MiamiHerald.com](<a href=“http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/29/2193210/college-tuition-to-rise-bright.html]College”>http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/29/2193210/college-tuition-to-rise-bright.html)</p>