<p>Needless to say, PSU gave me terrible financial aid, and I'm out of state. I got $5500 out of the $45000 bill, and even then the money they've given me is in loans. I've gotten into several other schools- UConn, BU, Villanova, Umass-Amherst, Providence, Fordham, Northeastern (NU-in program). However, I love Penn State SO much. Everything about it makes me so happy and when I visited campus I instantly knew that was where I wanted to spend my college career. However, I've been wondering if it'd REALLY be worth it to be in THAT much debt? My parents are willing to make it work, but I just dont know.</p>
<p>Are you thinking about going to grad school? Do you have younger siblings? If so, go to the cheapest school. If not, sit down and seriously talk with your parents and figure out whats best for you.</p>
<p>Yeah- the aid is the pitts. Has been for a long time. </p>
<p>I am HUGE PSU fan, but unless the program you are going for is unique (as my son’s is) - there are LOTS of other schools out there. </p>
<p>You have to come to a balance between what your family can afford and what makes sense. For us, PSU made sense. For others, it won’t. </p>
<p>As kblitz mentioned - think ahead to grad school. Get a good, solid, and affordable education - and then look at PSU for grad school.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I’m doing business so no grad school, and I am the second and final child in my family.</p>
<p>I just read that Business Week declared Penn State’s business program #22 overall in the nation and recruiters voted it #1. If your family can manage it financially, go, you’ll get a great education and an unbeatable college experience. But it is frustrating that merit aid is severely lacking at PSU.</p>
<p>45,000 !!! Maybe you should fine an apartment somewhere and that would probably save you a lot of money. Another thing that might help is to file your own taxes. That would increase your aid money. I’m doing the 2 + 2 program at another Penn State campus (I’m also out of state) and its saving me A LOT of money. Maybe you should do 2 years at a cheaper campus and later do your last two a U - Park.</p>