Hello everyone,
I am looking to transfer to Clemson University as a transfer student from a community college. ( I am in- state student and my cumulative GPA is 3.69. My GPA was 3.8 but dropped because of a C and a B). The only thing that concerns me is mostly the financial aid because I am low income student and my EFC is 0. I’m worried financial aid will not cover the full cost of tuition and housing as transfer student. In my state (South Carolina), most schools do not offer scholarships or minority grants to incoming transfer students. You have to attend the college for one academic year. I have looked into out of state colleges because they offer more scholarships for transfer students, low-income students, and minority students. But unfortunately I can’t afford to leave the state. I am looking for full time work and my part-time job is not enough.
My mother’s income is below $12,000 year and combined with my income is still below $15,000. ( My mother’s income is low because she is on Social Security because of heart and kidney failure. My income is low because I worked full time but had to resign while in school and kept my part time job.) I am first generation college student so I honestly don’t know where to go to about advice about this situation. I can’t fill out the FASFA yet but I will in February. I have spoken to different colleges about financial aid and they said sometimes need based grants, student loans, and work study may not cover the ENTIRE cost even if you’re poor.
Do you think I will be ok as low income student transferring to a public university?
I am asking because I don’t really know anyone that is low income that attended a university as a transfer student and received financial aid. I am looking for scholarships online but the issue still is not being a college freshman. I am applying to other colleges but I am limited because application fees add up and a lot of colleges don’t accept application fee waivers.
All answers and advice are greatly appreciated, thanks!
Why can’t you file the FAFSA now? You’re allowed to use 2014 tax returns to estimate.
You should also apply to the JKCF Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, if it’s still open. But, doing that is no replacement for having a solid game plan in the (very likely – for anyone) scenario that you don’t win the scholarship.
I need my mother’s information but she’s currently in the hospital. How do I use 2014 tax returns to estimate? And I will thanks.
You also need to have a conversation with the transfer advisor at your community college.,tha person should be able to help you identify colleges that do give aid to CC transfer students.
You may need to consider schools in addition to Clemson.
Click on “Will file” for both you and your parent(s) when filling out the FAFSA. Then use 2014 info.
When you file for 2015, go back and update the FAFSA with 2015 info.
On,y use 2014 information if you think it is pretty close to the actual numbers. Your parents and you…should,have end of year pay stubs that give full year to date information that can help you make GOOD estimates for 2015.
What does Clemson’s Net Price Calculator estimate?
Academic Year: 2013-14
Estimated total cost of attendance: $26,990
a. Estimated tuition and fees $12,668
b. Estimated room and board $7,228
c. Estimated books and supplies $1,090
d. Estimated cost of laptop computer $1,600
e. Estimated other expenses
(Personal expenses, transportation, etc.) $4,404
Estimated Clemson merit/need-based grant aid: $0
Estimated need-based grant aid: 6,540
Estimated net price:
(Cost of attendance minus scholarships and grant aid) 20,450
I am honestly not sure what this means? I know this is estimate but does this mean I am expected to take 20,450 in loans. And what the loans don’t cover I must cover out of pocket? My mother can’t do the parent plus loan either.
I am considering other schools but there is limit to the amount of schools I can apply to. I just can’t afford to spend money on application fees to colleges that honestly won’t offer financial aid to cover the majority of my tuition, books/supplies, and housing. I know there are limits to student loans and grants. I just don’t have the income to pay thousands of dollars out of my pocket.
okay, thanks
You may not have the income but does your parent? Your figures from the NPC indicate that your parent has a fairly high income or you really messed up putting the information in the NPC.
No, my mother doesn’t have the income and she has bills and my younger siblings to take care of. She was just awarded Social Security Disability and her 2015 income was below $12,000. I put the info in correctly , here is how i answered below:
Basis for Calculation: On what basis would you like to estimate your possible need-based financial aid?
I know my Expected Family Contribution (EFC): 0
Merit Estimate: Would you like an estimate for your possible merit-based financial aid?
Please estimate merit-based aid.
Do not provide an estimate for merit-based aid.: (transfer students will not receive merit based aid until after one academic year)
Age: How old are you? 22
Living arrangement:
Where do you plan to live while attending Clemson?
On-campus (in a residence hall, dormitory, or on-campus apartment)
Residency: I am a South Carolina resident and eligible for in-state tuition
SC Scholarship Are you eligible for a South Carolina scholarship? (choose one)
Not Eligible for South Carolina Scholarship
We cannot give you a full estimate of your merit aid eligibility unless we know your eligibility for state scholarships. Please consult your high school guidance counselor or visit http://www.che.sc.gov/Students,FamiliesMilitary/PayingForCollege/WhatFinancialHelpIsAvailable/ScholarshipsGrantsforSCResidents.as
Are you saying the Clemson NPC is using the cost of attendance from the 2013-2014 school year? Why would,that be? It’s currently the 2015-2016 school year.
Is this an old NPC calculation?
Coastal Carolina is a lot less expensive for a SC resident. http://www.sciway.net/edu/colleges/public4yr.html
Yes, I don’t know why they haven’t updated the financial aid website for Clemson. I did another school but it still doesn’t cover everything. Are NPC accurate for transfer students that will be a sophomore and not incoming freshman?
Here is example:
College of Charleston
Estimates for the 2015-2016 Academic Year
Your published cost of attendance:
Tuition & Fees
- $10,983
Room & Board
The Room & Board figure is an average and can vary significantly. For
actual on-campus, please click here. - $10,216
College Of Charleston Direct Cost
$21,199
Estimated Personal Expenses
Books & Supplies
- $1,214
Other Expenses - $3,910
Total Cost (including Personal Expenses)
$26,323
Your estimated grants and scholarships:
Federal Grants
Pell Grant
- $5,775
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant - $800
State Scholarships and Grants
SC Need Based Grant - $2,500
College Grants and Scholarships
Institutional Need-Based Grant - $2,000
Total Grants and Scholarships
$11,075
Your Estimated Net Price
$15,248
Your estimated eligibility for other aid programs:
Loans
Direct Subsidized Loan - $3,500
Direct Unsubsidized Loan - $2,000
Your Estimated Remaining Cost
$9,748
Additional Educational Resources
Work-Study
Federal College Work Study - $2,800
Loans
Direct PLUS Loan (Parent Loan) : I can’t the parent plus loan and my mother tried this for my brother’s out of state university. She was denied for this loan. - $6,948
I am responsible to come up with $6,948 for a public in state school.
That sounds about right. College of Charleston and Clemson do not guarantee to meet full need.
The net price calculators are for incoming freshman.
What Sc colleges guarantee to meet full need or where can find this info?
Also look at Winthrop University. It’s instate and was actually Clemson’s sister school before Clemson went co Ed. What is your reasoning for wanting to transfer to a 4 year school and what do you want to major in? Talk to your transfer advisor to see what schools often scholarships to transfer students .
There are no colleges in SC that guarantee to meet full need for all students.
Thank you and I always planned to transfer to a university from cc. I plan to major in Biology at Clemson. I want to become PA but nursing (BSN) may be more realistic financially.I talked to advisor at my cc and they give a lot wrong info. All the public universities I have contacted said they don’t offer scholarships to transfer students. I must attend their school for 1 year to apply. I looked for a outside college transfer scholarships (not many) . The other scholarships are mostly for college freshmen . My gpa dropped from 3.89 to 3.69 so I’m not sure if I can get into out of state school . Because I noticed other states seem to offer more grants and scholarships to transfer students. Most of the schools the advisor suggest were out of state because of the aid .