How to get in-state tuition in Florida if out-of-state?

I think you’re just assuming you’re going to be happy, though. Big gamble.

@CourtneyThurston no, trust me I will be happy there, I try to visit during winter and spring break and when I do go there for just a few days I am happy there, and once I come back home it just goes back to shit

It’s always greener on the other side

Contact the colleges and ask them. Because you are applying with lots of info from OOS, you will likely need to prove your residency. This means you will need to provide copies of your rental lease, maybe utility bills, driver’s license…whatever the school asks for that dan PROVE that you resided in FL for the required time to establish residency for that college.

Are you hoping to apply for need based aid? If so…there could be a kink in your plan…because you WILL be dependent for financial aid purposes on your Texas residence parents.

@thumper1 Thanks for all the advice, if I do apply for need based aid from FAFSA and I put my parents info in will that cancel out me becoming a florida resident? thats my last question, if it indeed does I wont try to get need based aid, and will just work to pay it off.

OK…let’s pretend that you do move to FL and then work for a year (no school) to earn instate rates.

Then you transfer to UCF and get instate rates…about $7k for tuition and about $15k for room, board and books.

You will only get a $6500 or 7500 loan. If you currently have a Texas grant (which it sounds like you do), you won’t get that in FL.
You wont’ qualify for Bright Futures.
What is your FAFSA EFC??

I suspect that the aid that you’re receiving to attend UT-Arl will mostly not be available to you in Florida…and you’ll be stuck …a student without an affordable state.

What exactly is the aid that you’re currently getting at UT-Arlington? (Exact amounts and name/type of aid.)

I suspect that if you were accepted to UCF as an instate student you’d soon realize that you don’t have the aid to actually attend…and then you will be screwed.

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question, if it indeed does I wont try to get need based aid, and will just work to pay it off.


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I don’t know if it will be a problem or not. However you’re naive about how much you can work/earn for school while going to school. UCF as an instate student has a COA of over $20k per year. You can’t go to school while trying to earn that much money and pay for a car, etc.

You are going to have a catch-22 situation that is not going to work for you. Here is why

Being independent for in-state tuition and federal aid are two separate things.

Until you are 24 or meet the criteria that the federal government uses to determine that you are independent for financial aid purposes you will be dependent and get aid based on your parents income and assets. In Texas, while you have a half scholarship, the other part is probably federal and state aid based on you being a dependent student along with your parents income and assets on the FAFSA.

To be independent for in-state tuition, you must demonstrate that you can pay half of the instate cost in your own(without depending on financial aid ). How are you going to do this?

Where are you going to work and make enough money to pay your college bills yourself? If you need any kind of financial aid, you will need your parents income and assets on the FAFSA. If you are paying your college expenses with financial aid, you will not get in-state tuition.

If you make enough that you can pay your 51% on your own, you probably won’t be eligible for financial aid. other than the federal loan. Again, if you go to Florida, and your parents are not going to pay because they feel you can stay in Texas and go to school for free, what are you going to do?

@twoinanddone what do you think!

I think it will cause some questions to be asked about YOUR actual residency. @twoinanddone showed that is is POSSIBLE (note…not guaranteed…possible) that you can gain instate status for residency purposes.

This is totally unrelated to your status in terms of financial aid and you will need to include your parents info.

but the schools will certainly want very good documentation that you are actually entitled to instate status…when your financial aid applications clearly show OOS parents.

Admissions and financial aid are not in the same place…so maybe it won’t matter.

@mom2collegekids Hi, thanks so much for your reply. I currently am getting a Federal Pell Grant of $3,365, a Mav Grant for Undergraduate at $2,435, and Outstanding Freshman Scholarship at $6,000, totalling to $11,800 in aid. Let’s say I move to Orlando, work at least 25 hrs a week at lets say $9/hr, that would come out to $10,800. But during my off year I would definately work more. I would not live on campus I would stay at an apartment at lets say $700 a month for a year which would be $8400 plus tuition $7,000 would be $15,400. That would mean I would be short $4600 which I think I could work more hours in the summer to cover or small loan? I would appreciate your input.

Deposits for rental and utilities, monthly utilities, car maintenance, car insurance, gas, health insurance, probable car insurance, food, and many costs I have forgotten. Have you looked at other UT colleges or other Texas schools, like UT-Austin or San Antonio? You have a pretty good deal where you are. Will you graduate debt-free? As a graduate, you would be employable in FL, not just trying to survive as a college student paying your own way.

@FloridaStudent97

  1. Don't forget you will have federal income taxes and FICA deducted from your earnings...so you won't be bringing home as much as you have listed.
  2. Your earnings could potentially impact the amount of Pell Grant you would be receiving in subsequent years.
  3. You will also have utilities, internet, phone, food, and other personal expenses which you haven't listed above. Oh...and health insurance.
  4. Let's say your Pell is the same for 2018-2019. That is $3364 for the year. You can also take a $6500 Direct Loan in your name. That totals roughly $9800. The billable costs of tuition and rent are $15,000 or so. You are short $6500 or so.

You would have to make up the $6500 or so…PLUS utilities, food, personal expenses, internet, your phone, etc. oh…and health insurance.

To be honest…working 25 hours a week and attending college full time would not be a suggestion I would make. Possible, sure. Easy to do…no.

Please…take a personal finance course. I think you are WAY overestimating your take home pay…and way UNDER estimating your expenses.

@sybbie719 When I was on the phone wih UCF, they told me I must earl at least $9,000 and file my own taxes, to show independence, I am not sure how accurate this is, I want to talk to them again about this to clear things up.I would simply work a part time job such as walmart.

You do realize that when you make the $10,000 a year that you project, you will no longer receive a PELL grant?

Are you currently working? Assuming you clear $9,000 a year take home, that is only $750/month.

@thumper1 ok. My parents would pay for anything that they are paying right now such as phone bill, car maintenance, food, supplies, my current insurance. I think I would be on the same insurance if I move out of state? I’m not sure about this. Also I know a guy who is willing to rent a bedroom in his house for $400-500 a month which is pretty cheap compared to an apartment so I could take up that option also. That would account to lets say $6000 rent a year plus tuition lets say $7000, that would be $13,000. Surely I could work for $13,000 a year working lets say 5 hours a day. I’m not going to lie im a fairly smart student and can get good grades with minimal effort put into my work, (I obviously dont know much about finances though because I have not been out in the real world. Would this seem doable? Food money would be coming from my parents.

If she applies to UCF next May or June (after a full 12 months of living in Florida) she’ll fill out a one page form to claim residence. It asks when she moved to Florida and asks for proof. It’s not complicated and I think if she moved there this May, got a job, a lease (even if she lives with an uncle, get a lease and pay him rent), license, registers to vote, etc. they will let her be a resident. However, they will ask for proof of independence (amount earned, amount paid for living expenses). Her taxes will show she’s filed as an independent person, claiming an exemption. Her parents cannot claim her on their taxes for 2017, so no AOTC for this current term, no ~$4000 personal exemption, no credits based on her. She’ll be able to claim those things, but will she really have $4000+ in taxes to pay?

When she files FAFSA, she’ll still be dependent and will get any Pell based off her parents’ income. If they are Auto $0 or simplified assets, her income will not count. She won’t be entitled to Bright Futures because she didn’t graduate from a Florida high school. She won’t get a Florida resident grant because she doesn’t go to a private school. UCF does have a lot of scholarships but I don’t know about transfer students. She could qualify for FSEOG, federal SEOG, Pell, but that’s really up to UCF.

It can be done, but OP must be willing to sit out of school for a year (at least), live in Florida IN THE SUMMER (it’s awful), work, take the tax hit to the parents. No guarantee until the student does it and applies; the schools CAN still deny the application.

I too think it would be best to live in Texas, finish school, move to Florida, work a year and then apply to medical schools if that’s what she wants to do.

How independent will you be if you are taking ALL that support from your OOS parents.

Your parent Texas health insurance would need to co we you in FL. Some plans do…and some plans don’t. You will need to check,

@twoinanddone will that matter?

@CourtneyThurston, have you become a Florida Resident? If so, are you now eligible for FRAG or other resident benefits?

You can’t receive all that from your parents while claiming to be independent.


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currently am getting a Federal Pell Grant of $3,365, a Mav Grant for Undergraduate at $2,435, and Outstanding Freshman Scholarship at $6,000, totalling to $11,800 in aid.

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You’ll lose most/all of that aid. You won’t get the Mav grant nor the outstanding Frosh scholarship in Florida.

You’ll lose most/all of that Pell Grant because of your earnings.


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Let's say I move to Orlando, work at least 25 hrs a week at lets say $9/hr, that would come out to $10,800.

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You won’t pocket that much…taxes, FICA and other costs will be subtracted.

Also…what about health insurance for Florida. You’ll have to buy that.


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But during my off year I would definately work more.

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Yes, and that income will go towards your car and living expenses. You won’t likely be able to save a dime.


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I would not live on campus I would stay at an apartment at lets say $700 a month for a year which would be $8400 plus tuition $7,000 would be $15,400. That would mean I would be short $4600 which I think I could work more hours in the summer to cover or small loan? I would appreciate your input.


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There’s more to an apartment than just rent!! There’s electric bill, cable, Wifi, etc. And what about food? Gas? Car insurance? Clothing? Car repairs/maintenance?