Think we may have figured this out...

<p>I wrote awhile back about being a difficult financial situation with my son and his college (Cal Poly Pomona). Looks like he should be able to do an Unsub Stafford loan for $9500 (I was denied a PLUS loan) which will cover his tuition and half of his housing for the year. That leaves about $1500 a quarter that my husband and I would have to pay which is $1500 more than we had originally planned (figured on contributing about $3000), but the third payment will be due in March and we will have a tax return by then (plus my van will be paid off early next year). Our son will need a part time job to cover the costs of his books (about $500 per quarter) and any gas he uses there (but he can use his bike to get around campus and he can work on campus too). My mother said she will help him when she can and she has already given him $650 towards a laptop to take to school. We will continue to pay his car insurance since that is already part of our budget each month.<br>
After attending the parent portion of Orientation I found the school to be very friendly, open to working with us, and they seemed to have lots of payment options, campus job opportunities, etc.<br>
I'm glad we didn't give up on him attending this school. It is pretty much the least expensive state university we could find for him, plus they have an excellent Engineering program. We will continue to look for scholarships, grants, and other financial options for him to continue at the school in the future. Obviously every little bit helps.</p>

<p>You must be really relieved to have found a way to pay for everything, akadavidsmom. If your son is careful, he can probably find a way to save money on books, and limit other misc expenses to the bare minimum. If the housing and meal plan at CPP is anything like at CP-SLO, it’s very expensive and not difficult at all to save money by living and eating off campus. That might be an option for your son next year when he’s a sophomore. Also there might be some departmental scholarships for which he’d be eligible next year if he has good grades as a freshman.</p>

<p>Good luck and congrats - CP Pomona has an excellent Engineering program, and your son will be getting a valuable education there.</p>

<p>So glad to hear this is working out. Thank you for the update and good luck to your son in college!</p>

<p>Thanks guys! We have him on the smallest meal plan because he is a very picky eater and he tends to be able to feed himself very cheaply anyway. We’re encouraging him to try to get good grades so that he might pick up a scholarship (or two…lol) next year. I know that it will be difficult to get high grades in his major, but I hope he will put the effort out. </p>

<p>I have found this website to be so helpful, esp for a parent like me who has never attended college. I had no guidance throughout high school and I am determined to give my children the opportunity to go on to college, although they are free to make their own decisions. </p>

<p>I’m sure I will continue to come here for more ideas and help. :)</p>

<p>It isn’t easy!
Your son is lucky to have you supporting him. We also found that it wasn’t ONE big answer to funding our son’s college but a bunch of small pieces that eventually fit together.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>