<p>I am going to be transferring from a CCC to CSU or UC (if I get in) this coming fall and am worried about my work situation. I am 26, no kids, took the long route through school and am excited to be transferring after 4 1/2 long years at community college (1-3 classes at a time, don't judge).</p>
<p>Currently, I have been working full-time at my job for 6+ years and have been hearing many people tell me there is no way I can keep this up once I transfer. I have no family financial support and have not qualified for any financial aid due my 35k salary. </p>
<p>Luckily my employer is willing to work with me and allow me to cut my hours to part-time and work around my school schedule. (Doing this may also cut my benefits :/) I am hoping that after reducing my hours, I may be able to qualify for more financial aid and limit the amount of loans I will need.</p>
<p>Has anyone experienced anything like this? Any information is helpful!</p>
<p>Can you continue to work full time and take your college classes part time? I know that will lengthen your college years, but it might just give you the money you need. My husband took 12 years to graduate from college. You’ll get there! </p>
<p>A lower income would lower your expected contribution though that may not mean the school just gives you more money, or may not mean they give you enough additional aid to justify the drop in income. </p>
<p>Also, aid is actually based on the previous year’s taxes, so yours would be based on the 35k income, though you’d be able to appeal on the basis that you are working less.</p>
<p>Check out these calculators and play with the numbers, you can get an idea of the kind of aid you can get based on income.</p>
<p>Unless the college meets financial need there is little chance you’ll get anything different from them by cutting back on your work hours. Federal FA for you would be loans and a Pell Grant. Your income is to high for a Pell Grant so now we’re back at loans. It’s better to get the $ to pay as much as possible now.</p>
<p>You have to make almost nothing to get decent aid as an independent. I speak from personal experience.</p>
<p>The income ceiling cut off for Cal Grant is $30.5k for independent students (A or B). Asset ceiling is $30.6k.</p>
<p>You would still qualify for B&G (income below $80k and have need; assuming you meet other qualifications as well) to have systemwide fees covered at a UC covered by any combination of grants and/or scholarships. But it is hard to maintain a full time work schedule and a full time school schedule. CSU doesn’t have a similar program I’m aware of to B&G.</p>