The Smarter Choice

Paying for College
1

<p>I'm considering UCLA as a college choice, but out of state tuition costs about $20,000 more. I currently live in Oregon with my mother who really only makes about $10,000 a year and doesn't even have a job right now, but if it would benefit me, I could also move to California to live with my grandma who isn't wealthy or anything, but is fairly well off.</p>

<p>So if I stayed in Oregon, tuition would be more, but wouldn't I recieve more financial aid?
Or should I move to California, where tuition is less but I would also recieve less financial aid?</p>

<p>Basically, whichever situation has me paying less, I'll go with.</p>

2

<p>How would tuition on Ca be less? You would be an out of state student in California (your residency for tuition is based on your parent’s state of residence, not that of a grandparent). That would probably make it more expensive.</p>

3

<p>Really? Even if my grandma has guardianship? And also, I thought you became a California resident once you lived in California for a year, and I’d be doing my senior year in CA and everything as well.</p>

4

<p>Your mom is going to give legal guardianship to your grandma for your senior year??</p>

5

<p>Yes, if it resulted in me not having to pay as much. But I guess it’s just a lose, lose since apparently I’m considered an Oregon resident until 24 no matter what.</p>

6

<p>If you move to California to live and work, after about year you could qualify for in-state tuition and fees. BUT you have to move there with the intent to live and work there. Studying would have to be an after thought.</p>

7

<p>Alright, well the question was more about what would cost less anyways…</p>

<p>living out of state with fairly low income? or in state with a somewhat high income?</p>

8

<p>You need to sit down with one of the FAFSA calculators (there are good ones at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>http://www.collegeboard.com/student/pay/add-it-up/401.html) ) and run the numbers for both scenarios. You also need to consider all of the legal/financial consequences of having your grandmother become your legal guardian. How much money will it cost for her to support you during your last year of HS? What about your health insurance, etc.? Who will be responsible for helping you pay for your college education? You will probably need specialized legal advice on this issue.</p>

<p>You also need to investigate the financial aid policies at the colleges/universities that you are considering. If you can become a CA resident, will you actually be able to afford the CA university that you are interested in? How likely are your chances of admission there? If you are an OR resident will you be able to afford any of the colleges/universities in OR, and which ones are likely to admit you?</p>

9

<p>Are you covered by your mom’s health insurance?</p>

10

<p>UCLA (and the rest of the UC system) makes it incredibly difficult to establish residency for tuition purposes. A dependent is not able to do so unless they can prove financial independence as per the guidelines below.</p>

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<p>[UCLA</a> Registrar’s Office: Residence for Tuition Purposes–Establishing Residence](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/establish.htm]UCLA”>http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/establish.htm)
[UCLA</a> Registrar’s Office: Residence for Tuition Purposes–Financial Independence](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/finindep.htm]UCLA”>http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/residence/finindep.htm)</p>