I don't know what to do.

Paying for College
1

Hello. I need help with deciding which college is better for me…I got accepted to Cal State University of Los Angeles and Cal State University of Northridge. I am planning to major in Accounting or Computer Science. Here’s my problem…the money difference. I live closer to LA (10 mins drive with no traffic), for Northridge it’s about 45 mins drive no traffic which means I have to dorm. Here is what I received from both college’s financial aid.

Cal State LA
Terms
Fall Quarter 2015
Pell Grant-$1,342
Direct Loan SUB-$1,167
Total-$2,509 x 3=$7,527 (Fall x Winter x Spring)
EFC: $1,703

Book&Supplies= 620.00
Room&Board= 1,590 <- I don’t need dorming because I live 10mins away
Loan Fees= 22.00
Miscellaneous= 464.00
Transportation= 495.00
Tutition and Fees= 2,116 <–Everything here will be the same for Winter and Spring quarters
Total Cost of Attendance= 15,917.00

Cal State Northridge
Terms
Spring 2016
Pell Grant=2,012
State Grant=2,736
DL Subsidized Loan 1=1,750
DL Unsubidized Loan 1=1,000
Total= 4,748.00 x 2= $9,496 ( Spring x Fall )
EFC: $1,703

Tuition&Fees= 6,564
Housing&Meals= 9,962
Book&Supplies= 1,860
Transportation= 1,380
Other education costs= 1,458
Total Cost of Attendance= 21,224
(This is Spring and Fall Quarters combined)

Okay, now I have a lot of questions…

  1. Which college should I attend, keep in mind my majors are Accounting or Computer Science. I know both schools aren’t well known for either programs.
  2. How much loan am I taking out for both schools?
  3. Is EFC mandatory? Do my parents really have to pay?
  4. I heard that you only really need to pay for tuition and/or dorming, the rest are just estimates of how much you’ll need throughout the year, is that true?

I know this is long, sorry! Thank you for reading.

2

Where is your Cal Grant for the first school?

no, your parents don’t have to pay their EFC if your remaining costs are below that or if you work over the summer and pay it yourself.

3

I did not receive any Cal Grant for the first school, yet.

4

Well, you will.

So, you’ll have your tuition paid for, plus a Pell Grant, plus student loans. If you work/save over the summer, then your parents may not have to pay anything.

5

Say I get the same exact cal grant as my 2nd school, how much loans do you think i’ll need to take out?

6

looks like you’re only getting Direct loans…so $5500