<p>do they give out financial aid based on FAFSA?</p>
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<p>^^^
PSU does NOT meet 100% of demonstrated need.</p>
<p>I think students who are considering this question should also think about what they are likely to study. An engineering graduate is probably going to be able to handle a little more loan debt than an english or education major.</p>
<p>My application to PSU stops here as the only Fin Aid I got so far is the $3500 from SHC. I was born in State College, but am now an OOS. I have already received full tuition and some $$ from an In-state university. It is very unlikely for me to attend the in-state, but I feel it is too expensive to attend PSU at the cost, in some cases, more expensive than Ivies.</p>
<p>PSU is expensive and it is not generous with Fin Aid. The Fin Aid part should not be a surprise to anyone since they are very upfront about it in the admissions meetings, student tours, etc. We knew this when DS applied. He got the $3500 from SHC and that was it. But for us, there was no question that this was the school he needed to attend, so we are doing it. No regrets.</p>
<p>Not doubting it is a good school , but it seems a high price tag for a public universityā¦besides sports and school spirit , I donāt really understand the appeal for OOS applicants
My step daughter is bent on going there ( undecided major ) She has been offered money from other schools that seem just as suitable considering she has no idea what she wants to do .</p>
<p>What will you be studying? Have you received any merit money from Hofstra? What would the COA be for you there? Although it is not rated as high academically as the others, Hofstra does have some very fine programs and many, many opportunites for internships etc. Is it likely you will be going to grad school? If so, it may be wiser to go to the best undergrad school your family can comfortably afford and save the big loans for post-graduate work.</p>
<p>lje62 - I certainly wouldnāt be spending the OOS money at PSU if my child was undecided about a major. </p>
<p>My son wanted a particular program, and PSU is one of a very small number of schools that offer it. And PSU is probably in the top 2-3 schools offering this program. That was the main draw for him - and then the rest of it (small college town, gorgeous campus, great band, honors college) made it a no-brainer decision.</p>
<p>PSU offers some nationally renowned programs that are not avaiable at many state flagships. In fact, similarly rated programs at privates will cost 10-15K more per year than attending PSU as OOS. So, for majors that are generally found at many schools, you are correct, the OOS tuition may not make sense but for some of the other programs it definitely makes sense.</p>
<p>Also, having some geographic diversity is desirable in an academic environment,</p>
<p>@ Grcxxc , I can understand that if there is a specific major at ( really any ) state college , especially if there isnāt something equivilant in oneās own state. Beyond that , I just donāt get it and I think it is silly to get into big debt over itā¦
We have friends that send their son to an OOS state school because the program offered isnāt available in our own stateā¦lucky for them , he receives same rate as in-state
I see so many of my oldest daughterās friends who have graduated with huge loans and working retail jobs at bestā¦all because they fell in love with their schools and didnāt see what life would be like once loans needed to be paidā¦I see it all very differently now than I did 5 yrs ago and am very grateful that my daughter only has one small loan for about $85 a month ( as opposed to some of her friends that pay $600 a month )
YIKES !!!
Thatās a lot of college football tickets :D</p>
<p>lje82 - Ironically, our in-state flagship (UT Austin) offers the program my son wanted. BUTā¦he was not top 10% so had no chance of being admitted, plus he had no desire to stay in TX (not home for us). Oh - and he hates the UT band uniforms! ;)</p>
<p>We are very fortunate to be able to pay the OOS tuition without any loans, but I realize that is not the case for many people. DS#2 will also be attending an OOS school in the fall, but the OOS tuition is about what we would be paying in-state at UT or A&M, so no difference. Heās happy with his choice (good match for him), and so are we.</p>
<p>Peachy267,
I aspire to be a doctor, so I do plan on going to medical school.
I plan on studying something to do with applied sciences.</p>
<p>Hofstra gave me 16,500, a pretty good package I think.</p>
<p>I understand how expensive medical school is- but my parents value a good education, and are willing to pay for it. </p>
<p>UConn released today that their tuition went up a little under 1000 for next year. Will PSU release their tuition increase soon?</p>
<p>Son has applied to a number of OOS publics because they are really about as much as we can afford to pay. They will be the top priced choices that are viable unless some merit money comes in for the privates or if he commutes to some local privates. The question will be whether they will be worth the cost over the in state publics.</p>
<p>Jme462: If you plan to become a doctor, you are looking at an additional $200,000 of education expensesā¦ even more at some schools. Hofstraās Medical School, which recently accepted students for its first class, estimates that the COA there, including room and board, is more like $70,000 per year. If you go to PSU will you have to take out loans or are your parents willing to foot the entire bill? There is no way I would advocate taking on any additonal expense from undergraduate schooling if I were looking at a $250,000 loan for medical school. I say go to the best school that you/your parents can comfortably afford, where loans are unlikely, and save the rest for medical school.</p>
<p>Reasons why I chose Penn State definitely include the spirit of the school, the education, and itās in a nice location (close by family in PA).</p>
<p>Even still, I am an OOS student, waiting on her finaid packet.</p>
<p>In any case I was accepted into the Erie campus vs. the UP campus that I want to go to. Do you think going to Erie for 2 years then transferring to UP will be worth the OOS tuition NOW?</p>
<ul>
<li>Also, when can you file for in-state residency?</li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>
No.
After you graduate from PSU and work/live in PA for a year as a taxpayer.</p>
<p>^^ re: Erie. No I donāt think it would be worth the OOS tuition. We are OOS and my d is still deciding if PSU is worth it. Other flagship OOS publics that have accepted her are significantly lower COA, especially when the difference over 4 years is added up.</p>
<p>I am an OOS & starting Penn State in the Fall. My parents are moving to PA. Can I file In-state residency a year later?</p>
<p>I know a number of NY kids who went to and are going to Penn State. They chose the school over a number of selective private schools and our state schools. They feel it is worth every bit of the cost. Iām sure there are those who feel otherwise. </p>
<p>For someone looking at medical school or professional schools and loans are imminent for undergraduate, I would not suggest going to a school more expensive than their state flagship. Here in NY, the cost is less than half the cost of PSU to get an undergraduate degree, and that kind of money over 4 years adds up to a huge premium. Unless the family can afford the difference, it is a much better financial choice to go get the same pre med education less expensively and not be so much in debt after medical school. Of course, you have to weight the certainty of the ug experience to the uncertainty of making it and going to medical school, but with some kids it is a pretty important priority.</p>
<p>For my kids, who donāt know what they want, I would not mind paying that premium up to what we can afford for undergrad. Penn State is a great school that has a very high satisfaction rating among alums.</p>
<p>My situation is that PSU is actually one of the better schools I got into (I didnāt apply to many, and yes, I do regret not taking HS seriously until junior year!!) but hey, Iām doing the best I can.</p>
<p>My IS schools are TERRIBLE. They are very cheap but absolutely terrible, ranking-wise. Even students who currently go there tell me itās terrible, education is bad, etc. but they have no choice because of money issues. In this case, should I go to Erie still or should I transfer to the UP campus next year seeing as how most people are saying that the UP campus is more worth OOS than silly little Erie.</p>