<p>While browsing the UC websites I stumbled upon their financial aid calculators and decided to fill it out just to see what it would say. Now I plan to transfer in two years and obviously have lots of time to think this over but I was a little surprised to see that my financial aid grants would be $15k+ through the UC system. If the grants really are as good as they seem then college should be relatively inexpensive to attend. I can only assume that there is more too it and that my out of pocket costs would be $20k+ requiring loans and other funds. I do intend to work part time 10-20 hours per week while studying engineering so I will have a small income but I still don't see how it can be so easy financially.</p>
<p>UCs generally have good in-state financial aid. Be glad you live in California, not a state with poor in-state financial aid like Pennsylvania.</p>
<p>I currently work full time and am just taking a single prep class to get ready for full time school again. I filed my FAFSA and was not eligible for a cent due to my income. This will change when I become a full time student in the summer/fall. I imagine since FAFSA goes off income tax returns that I <em>may</em> be eligible for something next year and should definitely be eligible the following year. I’ve been planning a “4-5 year budget” on how to do all this and was really surprised at the UC calculator. In some cases it says I will only need to contribute ~$8.5k per year with loans. </p>
<p>Does anybody have experience with UC or CA school financial aid? Are these figures inflated and uncommon in reality? My initial thoughts were to steer away from the UCs because $50k+ debt seemed inevitable unless I worked full time. I have enough saved up to get through the first two years without loans but will need some assistance after. I can definitely live with $20k in debt after graduation if my job prospects were reasonable.</p>
<p>To give you an example, here is a package for UCLA this year for a student who is not a dependent and who has zero income. </p>
<p>Cost of attendance 33k</p>
<p>Grants 25k
Loans 6.5k
Work/study 1.5k</p>
<p>@BrownParent, does the calculator ask for savings? It would seem the OP will have somewhere north of $50K saved based on the comment " I have enough saved up to get through the first two years without loans"</p>
<p>I don’t have nearly that much saved but I will be going to community college for the first two years which is really cheap compared to the UC. I think I can hold out a minimum two years doing that with my savings. More if I work part time.</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad (how to tag your name?) No. They are a FAFSA only school. The package I quoted was actual, not from the calculator, and the student does have some assets.</p>