<p>You remind me of my friend's stepdaughter. She is determined to go to a college that is way too expensive for her family's budget and is questionable in terms of value. You are looking at a school that simply does not meet their students' EFC. The only real money you are getting are the federal funds. I am not sure why you are not getting any Pennsylvania state money, as you are certainlyl eligible since you are getting Pell grant funds. I am drawing a blank on what the program is called since it has been a few years since I have been in that state, but you should be getting some money from them. But other than that, I doubt that you are going to get much out of Clark Atlanta. Is it really worth $60K to you? What kind of job do you expect to get to pay back those loans? I would not blink an eye, if there was a reasonable chance that this would truly improve your employment prospects by that much, but in my opinion, it will not. </p>
<p>If you are getting federal money, you had to have filled out FAFSA. Your EFC is what came out of those numbers on that form, which is your expected family contribution. Given the Pell grant you received, and the subsidized loan, your EFC had to be very low. Your problem is that you are going to a college that does not give much financial aid. $200 is a drop in the bucket. You may want to talk to them about this, but first of all transfers do not usually get much aid, and I don't think this school gives many students, if any, full need. You can look it up in the USN&WR Ultimate Directory as to what the school generally gives. So if you or your family cannot come up with the gap, you need to borrow it. </p>
<p>Emeraldkity has some ideas for you to consider. Perhaps another year at the cc, working ,and looking at some state schools where the tuition is less and they may give you some more grants. You can give Clark Atlantic financial aid a call, and see if there is any possiblility that they will come up with more grant money for you, and why you are not getting any of the PA state aid. I think, though, in your case, a state school would be a better deal all around. $60K is an awfully large debt to assume unless you have some reasonable chance of being able to make the money after school to repay it.</p>