It’s tough getting cost down to $20k including work and Direct loans in that $20k. Even $15k is cutting it close
It might be tough, but it isn’t t impossible. Our kids have a much smaller budget.
Truman State would cost this student around $17,000. https://www.truman.edu/admission-cost/cost-aid/tuition-costs/ (Deduct the automatic $8000 scholarship)
New Mexico Tech would be around $15,000 after scholarships.
https://www.nmt.edu/finaid/tuition.php
Not sure about SDSMT, but I suspect it would fall in a similar price range.
We are also working with a small budget and another tip I will pass on is to really look at the room and board costs closely. Most colleges give you an average cost, but when looking at the actual rate sheets, we found that our son could save like $3k per year by living in a triple room versus a double. And then you can also sometimes save by purchasing a slightly smaller meal plan.
@Mom2aphysicsgeek
Although I love New Mexico Tech and recommend it all the time, Tech’s OOS COA is $18,812 per semester and the OP would only qualify for the Presidential Scholarship worth $4000/year.
Eastern New Mexico State, though, might work.
Non-resident COA is $8094/semester (tuition, fees, room, board, books)
<a href="https://www.enmu.edu/admission/tuition-and-fees">https://www.enmu.edu/admission/tuition-and-fees</a>
A 29 ACT would guarantee $2400/year scholarship
<a href="https://www.enmu.edu/admission/scholarships/out-of-state-freshmen">https://www.enmu.edu/admission/scholarships/out-of-state-freshmen</a>
Cost after scholarship $13,788
With a 29 ACT, the OP would qualify for the Amigo Scholarship at UNM, but the costs after scholarship would still be $23K.
<a href="http://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/non-resident.html">http://scholarship.unm.edu/scholarships/non-resident.html</a>@WayOutWestMom Thanks for the correction! That was a huge miss on my part. I did not notice the in bold print per semester!
You’re better off spending any free time at an actual job or studying to improve your scores. $500 tiny scholarships here or there won’t make a dent.
“the fafsa 4caster said that roughly $40,000 would be the efc but we could max afford $20,000 so I have to make roughly $20,000 in merit money which is DAUNTING”
A FAFSA Forecaster EFC of $40k does not mean that a school with a COA of more than $40k will fill any gap with free money. Thus your comment that your parents’ max afford’ of $20k and you need to come up with $20k in merit money is not necessarily accurate if the COA is over $40k.
Small outside scholarships can add up, but unlike a job, there is no payout guarantee, and they are almost always only for one year.
Did a job (assure your would be employer that it’ll be year-round not just summer). Save ALL the money. Try to make $5,000 between now and next July, working full time during the summer and part time during the school year.
Your merit scholarship will depend on the test scores so prep like your going away to college depends on it - it does. Use books, free classes at the library, etc.
Can your parents afford 20k put of pocket (from income/savings) or is that your estimate? What do the 20k include?
Are you a boy or a girl? (Some women’s colleges offer big merit scholarships. Agnes Scott has a Bright Futures wannabe scholarship I think (didn’t check rexently), do check.
Check Stockton University in NJ. Guaranteed merit for OOS. Their advertised price is $33k OOS, minus the $7200 for OOS but actual costs can be lower depending on housing/dining options. You do have to live on campus to keep the award, but your current stats qualify you.
If your budget is 20k and that includes you working and taking loans, it is time to be realistic. It doesn’t matter if the school is your favorite. You simply need an education. Try UMass Lowell or two years of community college and then transferring. UMaine Orono will not be affordable. Maybe Maine branches. UMass Amhearst will not be affordable. You won’t get it down to 20k a year instate.
If you can get your ACT up to a 30 or SAT up to a 1390, you will get a full tuition scholarship at University of Alabama Huntsville. Then your cost will be about 20k a year. Plaan the community college then transfer route as your safety. Mass has a strong university system.
@gearmom - It’s more like 15K/year at UAH with the tuition scholarship and that’s including 4K of “personal expenses” that one could cut back if need be, although I suppose travel would be costly.
@cshell2 I am seeing 40.5 K as the out of state attendance for UAH. Subtract a full tuition scholarship IF OP can raise stats, so subtract 22k and you’re are at 18.5k. Depends on how OP manages the more discretionary areas. 20 k ish is a safe target and allows for wiggle room.
Right now OP has certain stats. So have to go with those. If the numbers go up, can include more schools.
@gearmom - Gotcha. I have last years numbers in my spreadsheet and I tend to ignore everything but tuition, fees, room and board and books when making comparisons, so I’d lobbed the misc. line items off.
right now i see small less competitive christian colleges as my best bet with merit money?? stonehill? endicott? assumption? st anselm? what’s the chances for these to get good merit money
@averageapp1852 Not with your regular good student stats and no financial need and if you do not have a hook. You won’t get it to the 20k range.
well it doesn’t look like anywhere else will either?? plus a lot of them are test optional which is apparently my downfall
@averageapp1852 Look at University of Alabama Hunstville. It is a research city which hosts NASA. That is your unicorn if you can bump your ACT stat to 30 or composite your SAT.