UCs Estimated Cost

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>How realistic are the UCs estimated costs? for example I'll use the one given to me for my acceptance to UC San Diego. It states:</p>

<p>Tuition and fees = $13,332
Housing and meals = $11,978
Books and supplies = $1,489
Transportation = $875
Other education cost = $2,935</p>

<p>Total = $30,608</p>

<p>With the grants I earned and financial aid it says Im going to have to pay $9,200 out of my own pocket per year. So my question is how accurate is that estimation. Are books and supplies really going to cost around 1500? Cant I use online to buy my stuff cheaper like I did at my Comunity College. Transportation $900 really? Ima be living in the dorms walking to class or biking. Other education cost nearly 3000? What the hell does that mean, what else could I need. I just eat/sleep/study. Tuition and fees i understand you pay for your classes and to attend the school. Housing and meal of course I need a place to stay and to eat. Im trying to cut down that $9,200. Thanks in advance for responses.</p>

2

<p>I have the same questions. I personally think, Tuition and fees, Housing and meals are the exact cost, but I hope I wouldn’t be spending more than 1k on some school books, and why would I need transportation as I would be on campus most of the time. I would have to come $7,000 out of pocket or get a loan, and I am trying to avoid loans, so I am wondering are these cost necessary.</p>

3

<p>If you have medical insurance, you can also knock off about ~$1500.</p>

4

<p>My guess is those estimates are generous (except for stuff like Tuition which is fixed, of course). Generally, they’re made for students to budget beyond their “need” so they don’t up entirely broke. </p>

<p>Depending on the size of your grants/scholarships you might not even have to take out any loans even though in the estimate calculations it might give you an out-of-pocket cost of several thousand dollars.</p>

5

<p>I’m concerned about this as well. According to the UCLA financial aid calculator, my self help award would be 16.5k. Normally I wouldn’t be concerned, but with a full quarter course load I don’t think I’d be able to do well in school and hold down a job that would pay for that to be covered.</p>

6

<p>@ shelter which school is that estimation from?</p>

<p>@hopingtotransfer I have read that before but I can’t find the link anymore. I wonder when the deadline to show proof for that and if mine is eligible.</p>

7

<p>Does anyone know?</p>

8

<p>The UC cost estimate is just that, an estimate, except for tuition and room/board. Transportation is calcluated to help defray the cost to get from school to internships/work experience/airport (bus) for holiday travel home. </p>

<p>As for books, the school must provide an equitable average cost to cover books/supplies. Because they state $1,500 for books does not necessarily mean a peforming arts major will require that full amount, but an engineering major may. In addition, you don’t have to buy books (new or old) from the bookstore.</p>

<p>Hopingtotrasfer is correct that if you can prove you have medical insurance, the “automatic” medical insurance charge the school places may be waived. You need to contact your school to find if it’s waivable and when the deadlines are.</p>

9

<p>As a current student, I’ll try to weigh in on this. This question’s kind of hard to answer because not everyone’s financial situations are the same. For example, a big variable is whether you live on or off campus. Housing usually takes up a large portion of your annual cost and it can be drastically reduced or increased depending on where you live. I know a few people that live off campus that split a 3 bedroom apartment and save around $300-400 / mo. as compared to living on campus. Whereas I like my privacy and live off campus by myself and pay probably $100-200 / mo. more than the recommended housing budget. </p>

<p>For books and supplies, it can easily cost you their recommended budget if you buy from the bookstore. Depending on how many classes you take a quarter and what the books are you can easily spend over that amount. But again, as you mentioned there are alternatives as I’m sure many of you have discovered in community college. You can rent books, buy / rent online, or use the library. Personally, I’ve finished two quarters and summer session and the only books I’ve paid for are lab manuals, which are usually less than $50. Largely because I choose to find free versions online, something that isn’t actually legal… but it’s free. And because whatever books I can’t find pdfs for online, I’ll just end up using the reserves at the library. I’d estimate I’ve probably spent less than $200 on books and school supplies in 8 months.</p>

<p>Transportation can vary too. I live off campus but UCSD has it’s own shuttle system that goes around the local neighborhood for UCSD students. So fortunately, I don’t pay at all for transportation to school and don’t have to pay for parking. If you live a significant distance and commute to school, especially if you drive, transportation costs can be much more than $100 / mo. If you live on campus, but still drive around town or home occasionally that’s probably more realistic although parking permits can be expensive also. At UCLA parking is upwards of 200 / qtr. </p>

<p>So, in short, the answer is it’s pretty subjective. Personally for my situation I’d say the budget is somewhat of an underestimate. But that’s only because I choose to live off campus by myself. Fortunately, I have two scholarships that help me make up the difference otherwise I would likely look for cheaper options. Really the biggest determining factor is housing. If you’re on campus the budget should be fairly accurate, if you’re not it can vary drastically. Off campus housing can be hefty around UCLA / UCSD / UCSB, whereas it might be cheaper around UC Merced, Davis, and UCR. So it depends where you live and what UC you attend. </p>

<p>I’d assume the majority of students plan to live on campus, so my impression is that the budget is fairly accurate and if you’re fairly frugal you probably can cut back on it a decent amount. That’s just my impression though, I’ve never lived on campus so it might be better if someone that lives on campus weighs in to support or correct that.</p>

<p>I’d encourage everyone to draw up a small budget to see whether or not the estimate is enough. If you’re still debating living off campus, look online at apt listings or on craigslist to estimate what the cost of rent will be. If you’re on campus, look at the UC’s housing websites and make sure to factor in the meal plan (usually the meal plan won’t cover every single meal you’ll eat). </p>

<p>Here’s my rough budget if anyone needs a template:
School Fees (w/o health insurance charge) - $13500
Rent - $1000 / mo | $9000 (9 month academic year)
Utilities, cable, internet (small studio apt in La Jolla) - $130/mo | $1080
Food (off campus) - $600/mo | $5400
Books / supplies - $150/qtr | $450 (more realistically is probably $300-500 qtr)
Transportation (driving home) - $100/mo | $900
Misc. - $200 | $1800 </p>

<p>My off campus, solo living, UCSD budget ~ $32000
UCSD off campus estimate ~ $29000</p>

<p>(You also may want to factor things in like cell phone plans, car insurance, med insurance, any extra school supplies, furniture if you live off campus, etc which I didn’t)</p>

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<p>After typing that I realized most people are probably referring to living on campus. The above should still be helpful for estimating the cost of books, transportation, etc. </p>

<p>@UCdoggy
That’s probably just an average of all the UC’s. To look at estimate cost of attendance at a particular UC, just google it. You should be able to easily find any of them as their typically on the admission websites.
Berkeley - [UC</a> Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office » Cost of Attendance](<a href=“http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/home/cost.htm]UC”>http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/home/cost.htm)
UCLA - <a href=“http://www.fao.ucla.edu/publications/2013-2014/Budget_Figures.pdf[/url]”>http://www.fao.ucla.edu/publications/2013-2014/Budget_Figures.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
UCSD - [Budgets</a> for Undergraduates 2012-2013](<a href=“http://students.ucsd.edu/finances/financial-aid/budgeting/undergrad-2012-13.html]Budgets”>http://students.ucsd.edu/finances/financial-aid/budgeting/undergrad-2012-13.html)</p>

<p>For any of the other UC’s, just type in “UC__ cost of attendance” or “UC__ budget” into any search engine. </p>

<p>I’m pretty sure every UC will have a health fee waiver. Again, search engines are your guys’ friends most of this stuff is online if you google/bing/yahoo it. For UCSD the UCShip health fee waiver deadline is usually a week prior to the start of an academic term. For Fall term it was 9/21.</p>

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<p>Awesome thanks for responses</p>

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<p>@UCdoggy Sorry I replied back so late, but UCSB.</p>