Several Questions from Parent Just Getting Started

Thank you mommdc and thumper1! The more I read helpful posts like yours and just running some more NPCs a few minutes ago, it looks like we’ll not be getting federal grant money/subsidized loans. But whether for my D’s expected contribution or as part of our own EFC, I’d think we’d be grateful for an unsubsidized federal loan, even a relatively small one compared to the total cost of attendance, assuming the federal rates were lower than private (which we’ll have to see about in two years - who knows). I really need to dig into all this and have good conversations with my family about what we can actually afford, what we are willing to pay, and what that means for choice of school. I am mostly jumping ahead to the loan landscape b/c I figure loans will have be part of the equation if she goes OOS given the expense of both public OOS and private OOS schools, so trying to figure some of that out to inform our family’s discussions.

But I need to slow down and look a bit before we leap, and the info you’ve given me is of great assistance and puts me several steps ahead of where I was. Thanks so much for the help and taking time to reply - I appreciate it!

What state do you live in?

Our FAFSA EFC is too high for a Pell grant, but we did qualify for a state grant and a subsidized loan at an instate public.

If your child has high test scores and GPA , don’t forget about merit opportunities and departmental scholarships at schools that you are interested in. Also, don’t discount private institutions , many have generous endowments that provide scholarships that can make cost of attendance equal to or even less than instate tuition

@jms111 don’t feel bad about asking these questions. I’m rather confused by a lot of financial stuff, as well. Remarkably I’m able to function in the real world but wow, I feel so dumb sometimes on CC with the questions I have to ask. :-/