<p>Hi, I'm thinking about moving off-campus but I'm wondering how that would affect my fin aid. I go to a 48k/yr college and pay about 6k/yr after grants and scholarships. My meal plan costs about 6k/yr and my dorm right now costs 6k/yr, I'm thinking off-campus housing would cost about 6k/yr and food would cost 2400/yr. However, I'd like to know how my fin aid package would be reduced-- whether off-campus housing would cost me more money in the long run considering that I pay 6k/yr. Does anyone know the logistics behind this? Thank you very much =)</p>
<p>It would depend on how your financial aid is structured, I’d think. For example, my son gets financial aid that substantially covers his total costs – including living on campus with a meal plan. If he moved off campus the college would not cover his off-campus rent and food the way they provide him on-campus housing and a meal plan.</p>
<p>On the other hand, my daughter gets a certain amount of financial aid from her school (a large public univ.) and she has lived on campus w/meal plan in the past, but this year she’s off-campus and dealing with food herself. Her financial aid isn’t any different because of where she lives.</p>
<p>So is any part of your aid specifically for college provided housing or food? Really, of course, the best place to find out the answer to a question like this is to ask your school’s financial aid office because they will understand their own aid policies better than anyone here.</p>
<p>You may need to contact your college. Some schools have 3 different COAs…</p>
<p>1) on campus
2) off campus
3) with parents</p>
<p>Definitely check with your school.</p>
<p>My daughter is the same as 'rent’s - she goes to a State U and has lived off campus since sophomore year and her aid stayed the same as when she lived on campus. For her it has definitely been cheaper than living on campus (and her apartment is actually closer to her classes than her dorm room was). But most of her need based aid is federal and her merit based scholarship is academic and not related to dorm expenses at all. Most of your aid will be coming from the school. Check with them whether any of it is contingent upon living on campus.</p>