<p>My research findings indicate that the calculators that ask the most questions tend to be the most accurate. However, it seems too good to be true that North Carolina State's calc and Texas A & M calc estimate grants over $17,000! Several other schools like U Delaware and U Georgia, Michigan State & Purdue predict $0 in Grant money for me based on our $7100 efc. Any thoughts? I'm baffled!</p>
<p>Many OOS colleges will not award aid above any federal entitlements.</p>
<p>None of those colleges meet full need for all, so I would expect huge variation in what they would expect you to pay.</p>
<p>Maybe those calcs factor in merit aid that you qualify for based on gpa/test scores?</p>
<p>Many of us probably won’t know until April. D isn’t applying to meets full need schools, and no NPC awarded full need. Most have included automatic merit which lined up with the awards that came with admissions. In state schools included state aid. However, I am still unsure as to how accurate these calculators will be. None asked if d was in the state’s gear up cohort, which provides grant money. None asked about race, even when the school’s website indicates diversity scholarships are available (based on need).</p>
<p>However, the NPCs should only estimate need-based aid and automatic merit scholarships, not those for which certain stats or status merely puts the student into a pool to compete for them.</p>
<p>They are not that accurate for those schools that have a lot of merit mixed in the formula and available, and that don’t guarantee full need, because you get an overall average. Also OOS may not be calibrated for in state. If your familiy owns a business or you have some out of the norm financial situation, or a NCP at times, it can be way off too. IT all depends on how well the school has set its NPC. I doubt you’ll get what Purdue and A&M are showing, having seen past awards from them.</p>
<p>However, it seems too good to be true that North Carolina State’s calc and Texas A & M calc estimate grants over $17,000! Several other schools like U Delaware and U Georgia, Michigan State & Purdue predict $0 in Grant money for me based on our $7100 efc. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>UNC does promise to meet need.</p>
<p>TAMU sounds like it’s including merit unless you’re instate.</p>
<p>The others are typical OOS publics…they’re not going to give an OOS student grants when they have their own instate students that they’re having a hard time giving money to.</p>
<p>I’m curious as to what you’re saying for TAMU if you’re OOS.</p>
<p>When I put in info into its NPC (income 65k, family 4, no savings, 1 in college)…it doesnt’ ask for stats, and it gave me:</p>
<p>2.
Where you will live while attending college:
On campus
3.
Cost of Attending
Total Cost $38201
Tuition & Fees $25656
Room & Board $8450
Books $1246
Other $2849</p>
<p>4.
Median Grant
$30450</p>
<p>5.
Estimated grant and/or scholarship assistance:
$5000-$20614/year</p>
<p>6.
Estimated net cost:
$17587-33201/year</p>
<p>7.
Estimated student loans and/or student work earnings:
$0-$0/year</p>
<p>8.
Estimated net cost with self-help:
$17587-33201/year</p>
<p>I suspect that the “median grant” is including the OOS students who are getting large merit money. I doubt that TAMU just hands out that kind of money to any/all OOS students.</p>
<p>I say that because in the next line it gives a big range. </p>
<p>Can you copy/paste your results for TAMU?</p>
<p>Thanks - I can do that later - I do recall that there was a range for the grant aid. A lot of posters are saying the schools are factoring merit aid which is confusing to me as I could not enter SAT scores since I don’t have them yet (I’m a Junior). Also most NPCs do not ask for gpa and test scores so I don’t know how they can estimate merit aid and many say they won’t in a disclaimer, without that data. I checked of Massachusetts which is OOS why don’t they factor that in? Articles I read online said the Calcs were often close and sometimes larger awards were given than estimated. But I know not to expect much aid as my brother and sister hardly got anything from their out of state schools they attended.</p>
<p>Here are the numbers the TAMU NPC spit out. I am Out of State, family of three, one in college, no business or real estate owned by parents $65000 parent income, $2500 my income. $10,000 529 (parents asset)</p>
<p>2013-2014 Estimated Costs and Aid Package:
1.
College:
Texas A&M University
2.
Where you will live while attending college:</p>
<p>On campus
3.
Cost of Attending</p>
<p>Total Cost $38201
Tuition & Fees $25656
Room & Board $8450
Books $1246
Other $2849
4.
Median Grant
$17045
5.
Estimated grant and/or scholarship assistance:
$14500-$19590/year
6.
Estimated net cost:
$18611-23701/year
7.
Estimated student loans and/or student work earnings:
$0-$3500/year
8.
Estimated net cost with self-help:
$15111-23701/year</p>
<p>I put in those numbers and got $17587-33201/year as the net price for Texas A&M non-resident. Meaning that you should assume the worst case of $33,201 net price as the baseline, with a lower net price if you get merit scholarships (the tough part may be estimating whether the merit scholarships are reach or match level).</p>
<p>Texas A&M does offer non-resident tuition waivers to go along with many of its merit scholarships, so it may be a more realistic shot (but not safety level unless you have the appropriate National Merit status that appears to give an automatic one): <a href=“https://scholarships.tamu.edu/information/tuition_waiver.aspx[/url]”>https://scholarships.tamu.edu/information/tuition_waiver.aspx</a></p>
<p>I am confused about why several people say that the Median Grant likely includes merit aid. I thought grants were solely based on financial need and separate from merit aid which includes scholarships. Why would they mix merit aid in when they do not know my academic credentials?</p>
<p>I read that UNC meets 100% of need but I am applying at NC State not UNC. Their NPC said
Institutional/State Grant…$17,900
Estimated Total Grant/Gift Aid…$17,900
ESTIMATED NET PRICE…$15,909
Seems too generous to be true after trying the NPC at 10 other Out of state State universities and seeing mostly $0 Grants or up to $3000 (though Univ of New Hampshire said $12,000 Grant)</p>
<p>Mallory, the NPCs are relatively new and it’s not yet clear how accurate they are for most students, much less those who are not typical. When you are not the typical average student at a state school, and are not entitled to certain state aid and monies, it could change the picture. Even being typical and average is a problems at schools where there is some enrollment management and some students get full need met and others do not. If you are average it many not mean you get exactly what is in between. It’s like saying you are perfectly comfortable with your head in the icebox and your backside on fire.</p>
<p>So, as a rule NPCs are NOT accurate when a school does not guarantee to meet full need, had merit money in the picture, has some holistic process in giving out the some need grants. Also for those with family businesses and other unusual financial situations, NCP in the picture, internationals, it’s not a good estimate.</p>
<p>You apply and see what you get. Make sure you have some local options that are truly affordable. Give it try a try at UNC and A&M and see what you get and share it with us. My nephew goes to A&M instate and doesn’t get a dime of merit and he’s pretty high up there in the stats.</p>
<p>Thanks. I seriously doubt that my academics would qualify me for UNC . I have 3.85 weighted GPA (3 honors courses and an AP planned for Senior year. Don’t have my SATs yet but I project them to be in the low 1100s (per my PSAT scores) probably 24-25 ACT and tons of Community Service work. I am really hoping to be admitted to North Carolina State U. But even that is still a bit of a reach. I have some safety schools like U Maine where we can get a $12,000 New England Tuition Waiver if I major in Zoology. I plan to major in Zoology or Wildlife Biology/Science/Management. TAMU offers that program. Also on my radar are Virg Tech, SUNY Environmental Forestry (in Syracuse), UNH, West Virginia U & possibly Univ of Missouri (Mizzou).</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to share the extra inside advice.</p>
<p>mallory…you have a $7k EFC. How much will your family pay? </p>
<p>Even if somehow NC State gave you that much in grant money (seems unlikely), you’d still have $16k to pay for. You can borrow $5500. Would your parents pay the other $10k? </p>
<p>I think you should avoid applying to so many OOS publics. Find some nice privates that give good aid.</p>
<p>BTW…NCSU’s transportation estimate is low for someone coming from the NE. You probably need to add to that.</p>
<p>Only a couple of schools in MASS offer my major and I really want to attend an OOS if possible. I hope to go to a fairly large school with Division I/IA football and Basketball (I am a huge sports fan), lots of clubs/activities, lots of students to connect with and amenities like a great Rec center. I have done a lot of research online and the private schools that offer Wildlife programs are very small and not really sports/school spirit oriented. My parents want the net cost below $20K and I plan on getting some private loans like my siblings did (though they are not really desirable). I realize I may end up in Maine but that would only cost $13K ish with the Tuition waiver and some aid. That beats UMASS which would cost us $23K!</p>
<p>Are there ANY schools in your state, in Mass, that would come in under the $20K cost? Can you commute? What you want and can afford are whole other stories, and this happens a lot. Believe me, borrowing is not something to do if you can come up with less expensive alterantives. It’s really difficult to pay back these loans. It’s painful to do so many times.</p>
<p>Baylor, Liberty and BYU are large, private, sports-crazy universities where you would be competitive for admission. They all have mixed reputations for Financial Aid, but you can run their NPC to get a rough idea. All three have Enviromental Science majors and BYU offers a Wildlife major.</p>
<p>I agree with others that it will be difficult to get much FA for OOS schools with your stats, unless you are willing to look at lower ranked schools. Public schools typically use their limited FA dollars first to attract stars, then to divvy up among their in-state students. There simply isn’t anything left over for OOS applicants.</p>
<p>If you are determined to go the OOS route, look for schools where your stats place you solidly in the the top 25% of admitted students. These schools will often include merit aid in their packages.</p>