So I shouldn't go to an out of state school?

Paying for College
1

<p>Im applying to 5 colleges in my state, NJ and my counselor has advised me not to apply to any out of state colleges because I really wont get any aid. The exact school she was refferring to is Temple University. It is a public school and she says it would be too expensive for me. I qualify for aid because my parents income is below average and my gpa for this year is a 3.6, so I have a shot at getting in. But Is it true that I really wont get any aid if I go out of state?</p>

<p>Ive already applied to Rutgers, William Paterson, Kean, Seton Hall and Rider. Im finishing my Hofstra, Temple and Five Towns application. Theyre both out of states but they're private schools so I assume that theyd be able to offer me more aid?</p>

2

<p>Rule of thumb will be instate schools will give you best need based offer, because schools /whether private or public/ are obligated to give federal help to their instate students first plus state help obviously goes to the instate students as well. OOS help is usually goes to very top candidates they want to attract.
Of course, it is more complicated than that. You have to look at college track record and if private college really wants you-they can give any aid they want.</p>

3

<p>I would carefully look over the numbers as none of these school meet 100% of your demonstrated need and there is a big gap between what they meet and what you will have to come out of pocket with in addition to the EFC.</p>

<p>Hofstra's cost of attendance is $36,100</p>

<p>they only meet 55% of your demonstrated need ($19,855) leaving you with a gap of about $16, 245 (money that you will have to come up with out side of your EFC)</p>

<p>Their need based aid is determined by </p>

<p>Academics
Art
Music/Drama
State/District Residency </p>

<p>If you are a really attractive candidate in any of these categories and the school is really tryng to woo you, your chances of getting decent aid may be better.</p>

<p>Otherwise:</p>

<p>Average percent of need met: 55%
Average financial aid package: $12,950
Average need-based loan: $3,025
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $10,100 </p>

<p>Average non-need based aid: $9,800
Average indebtedness at graduation: $20,500 </p>

<p><a href="http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3260&profileId=2#%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3260&profileId=2#&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Temple:</p>

<p>Cost of attendance: 29,800</p>

<p>School meets 87% of need </p>

<p>Average financial aid package: $13,429
Average need-based loan: $2,881
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $5,116 </p>

<p>Average non-need based aid: $4,066
Average indebtedness at graduation: $23,772 </p>

<p>Financial Aid Distribution
Percent of total undergraduate aid awarded as:
Scholarships / grants: 53%
Loans / jobs: 47%</p>

<p><a href="http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1409&profileId=2%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1409&profileId=2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Five Towns</p>

<p>cost of attendance $30,300 school has a 55% gap ($16,665)</p>

<p>Average percent of need met: 45%
Average financial aid package: $6,050
Average need-based loan: $2,500
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $4,000 </p>

<p>Average non-need based aid: $3,400
Average indebtedness at graduation: $15,100 </p>

<p><a href="http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3625&profileId=2%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://apps.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3625&profileId=2&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>to me it looks like NJ is your best deal as there is no appreciable quality in these schools over Rugters, ETC that would substantiate me as a parent wanting to pay out this additional money if you were my kid.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the info. I have some more eliminations to do because theres no way in hell my parents would be able to pay that amount of money.</p>