<p>Wait CQ banana and DK did everyone forget that UC’s are in California? Some of the most expensive real estate in the country houses the UC’s. Most UC’s, that I know of, are in some prime real estate areas. How would $20K cover the tuitions, books, and rents at UCSD? in La Jolla; UCLA-WEstwood, UCSB, UCSC, Berkeley, Etc. Please note that rents in the UCSD area are running about $1500-2000 per month.</p>
<p>Of course I haven’t forgotten – obviously 20k wouldn’t cover everything! But wow, 20k would be amazing, because if I got 20k in grants each year, I would only take out 10k in loans each year. I live with someone who has loans/income of his own, so that would be enough.</p>
<p>No, I didnt forget. La Jolla is a bit pricy, but if you’re willing to take the bus, you can live in the area around La Jolla, which decreases the prices to 900-1k. With 3 other roommates, it steeps down to 300-400$/month. UCLA same wise. you can live in the nearby city of Carson (and the shuttle comes down to Torrance/Carson) which the rent is significantly cheaper.</p>
<p>Cal/Davis same thing. You can live in the worse (and a bit further away areas) and as long as you’re willing to put up with the local transit system, you are able to get to classes. </p>
<p>20k obviously isnt enough to cover it all, but there are ways to skim off the 35k that UC’s advertise as their oncampus / offcampus costs.</p>
<p>Uh, no student on financial aid is going to be paying 1500-2000 in rent for just themselves. Unless you want to live large and take out loans to cover everything. There is much more affordable rent in all those locations + roommates brings down the cost a lot.</p>