There are not many CC’s in California with dorms and I think you are referring to the satellite campus for Sacramento City College which is next to the UC Davis University campus. This does not have dorms but apartments are available at the West Village (not cheap).
The prices I’m listing also include room and board. And living off-campus is not necessarily cheaper, even with roommates. And what happens if you want to have an internship over the summer at a location that is not where your university is? I’m not saying that it may not be beneficial to move off-campus after freshman year. But I would say it is worthy of additional research, particularly with respect to the costs.
Did you receive a Pell grant as part of your financial aid package to the $22k university? Or is it all institutional aid?
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It is really hard when your in-state options cost a lot of money. But all the prices I’m quoting you (both for the residential community colleges and the 4-year universities) are for out-of-state students, so the price that you would be paying as coming from Pennsylvania.
If you end up going to a community college for two years and getting residency in that state, then you would get in-state tuition rates for years 3 & 4. Alabama and Mississippi have among the lowest tuition costs in the U.S. for in-state students.
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I know. I said that it may not be cheaper, but it could be since we live in a rural area
Could you tell me more about interest autopay?
Edit - deleted - my description of what was being asked was incorrect. thanks @Mwfan1921
What that poster was talking about is that the unsubsidized portion of student loans, and the entirety of parent plus loans begin accruing interest right away, or soon after disbursement. So, while you are still in college.
Some people choose to pay that interest starting right then (either with a check or autopay with a charge card), so the loan balances don’t grow so quickly. If you don’t pay this interest while you are in school, it is added to the principal loan balance.
ETA: Here’s the link about how interest works for the direct student and parent plus loans. If your parents get private loans instead of parent plus loans this info would not apply. Federal Student Aid
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I’m not sure about interest autopay, but wanted to weigh in generally.
I was fortunate enough to have my undergrad tuition, room and board paid by my parents, put myself through law school 23 years ago. I graduated with 108k in debt, consolidated my loans out over 30 years and spent 15 years as a public interest lawyer. I paid off my loans 10 years early after entering private practice, but otherwise I would still be paying $800/mo until 2030. The debt was quite limiting for my public interest friends and me. Grads the immediately entered big law fared better.
I don’t know which schools you are considering but for the law schools, check internships, summer clerkships/associate programs, and bar passage rate to make sure there are sufficient opportunities to gain experience. Too bad Penn State Law is so expensive (but the undergrad is not).
If you can move out, work part time, and begin classes at one of Penn State’s or Temple’s satellite campuses, that might keep costs low. In addition, Temple has a great law school that is almost half of Penn State Law’s tuition and it has a part-time option.
Good luck.
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@OnyxShimmer I know this isn’t your ideal choice, but I want to share my personal community college success story with you. After high school, I got a full time job, an apartment with a roommate, and paid my own way through community college. There were definitely people at the CC who didn’t finish school, but I was determined and it sounds like you are, too.
I transferred to a state university (it did take me three years), and by then I was married and living with my husband. I took out student loans only for my two years at uni. I graduated with some debt that I was able to pay off in less than ten years.
I now have a house, kids, pets, a successful career. I’m pretty happy and I don’t care one bit that I didn’t have that more traditional experience. That is just one way. There are many ways. I know you’ll find yours. Best wishes to you!
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Even Penn State undergrad is expensive. Idk if this will help, but I took AP classes in high school, so that may help costs a little
Check the AP policies of the schools which have accepted you. They are usually on the website, often in the academic catalog.
Some schools give credit for AP test scores (typically 4 and 5, sometimes 3), which can decrease the number of credits needed for degree completion. Other schools will only give placement, not credit, for AP test scores.
If the AP policy is not on the website, call admissions and ask. What AP test scores do you have so far?
It might not start getting paid until three student graduates, but it will accrue immediately when disbursed.
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If the loan is unsubsidized, interest will accrue upon disbursal for the federally funded loans as well.
@gumbymom this student is not a CA resident…and the poster who asked about this wondered if the student could establish residency in CA while attending a community college.
I think no…but @Gumbymom will know!
If you use a charge card…plan to pay the balance off each month. Otherwise you are just transferring interest from onto place (the federal loan) to another (the credit card)….and most credit cards have much higher interest rates.
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Yes, I know this student is not a CA resident and if they are not considered an independent, then establishing CA residency is moot until they Reach 24. Posters are trying to help OP but this is too much of a stretch to try and establish residency in another state.
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Plus OP has stated in the past they’re not interested in other states or even other colleges - from the get go it was the $22K or $33K - and sounds like the $22K was chosen.
You received a ton of suggestions about more affordable colleges on your other thread in the summer. Did you apply to any of those? For example, I had suggested Flagler in FL. Lots of good suggestions on that thread.
Maybe take a gap year, and find a room to rent, get a full time job, and apply again next year to affordable choices.
Thank you! (Although the OP is trying for a dependency override, I agree that it’s too risky).
Edited to add that trying for California residency is too risky—not the dependency override plan itself, although of course that is difficult too.
I know, since we pay it (automatic withdrawal from our checking account), my point was I doubt the OP’s parents will choose to do so, making the balance even higher, with a higher interest rate.
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