<p>Hi, I'm about to be a junior in high school and I live in Virginia. One of my top choices is University of Virginia. If you've been to UVA, how much financial aid did you get from the college? My guidance counselor says that the costs listed on college websites (aka "sticker prices") are not what most students pay, they actually pay less. I was just wondering how much less? Not sure if that made sense, but if anyone has any insight, please share!</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m surprised your guidance counselor didn’t tell you to look at UVA’s Net Price Calculator, which will give you a rough estimate of what financial aid YOU would get–what anyone else got is irrelevant, since their family’s financial situation will not be identical to yours.</p>
<p>UVA meets full need (as it computes your need to be) for all accepted instate students. You would need to complete both the FAFSA and Profile financial aid application forms. Your aid will primarily be determined by your parents’ incomes and assets. </p>
<p>If your family is high income, you might not receive anything but a $5500 direct Loan.</p>
<p>If your family is low income, you could get more aid…but it would depend on HOW low your family income actually is.</p>
<p>There is no way to even guess what your need based aid would be without knowing your parent incomes. </p>
<p>You certainly don’t need to post your income here…but if your parents earn about $100,000 a year, their family contribution would be in the $25,000 range…which is just about the cost of attendance for an instate student at UVA. If that were the case, you would be offered no need based aid except the Direct Loan (unsubsidized), because your EFC is at or exceeds the cost of attendance for an instate student at UVA.</p>
<p>She never told me about Net Price Calculators. Thanks!
My yearly family income is about $95,000.</p>
<p>Try the net price calculator. With $95,000 income, don’t be surprised if your need based aid is zero! But by filing a FAFSA, you can take the Direct Loan if needed.</p>
<p>And don’t forget about all the other wonderful public universities in your home state of VA! If you are a competitive applicant for UVA, you actually might get some merit money at other VA publics!</p>
<p>Of course, your aid will also vary by the number of kids in college in your family at the same time. If your family has an expected contribution of $20,000 a year, but 2 siblings are in college in the same school year, the expected family contribution would be $10,000 per student. </p>
<p>The formulas assume students earn money to pay some of their own expenses. Also, the system in effect assumes that families should have saved some money over the years before their kid starts college. </p>
<p>Every college is required to have a net price calculator. However, some colleges are more accurate than others.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, financial aid does not take into account cost of living. A $75,000 income will go much further in rural Va. than it will in Northern Va. or NYC.</p>
<p>Jeez, northern VA is a rough place to live if you want to go to college and get financial aid…I’m the only child in my family. Would it be unrealistic to expect any aid at all?</p>
<p>You can apply. BUT if your family income is $95000, it is very possible your EFC (family contribution) will calculate out to greater than the cost of attendance. Schools do NOT give need based aid to cover the family contribution…and the total of the EFC and aid and need based aid cannot exceed the cost of attendance.</p>
<p>You are so fortunate to be an instate resident for VA. There are other public universities in VA where you very well could get Merit aid to soften the financial blow. Look into some of the others public universities (not William and Mary…it is as competitive as UVA).</p>
<p>True. I’m definitely glad I live where I live. Thank you everyone for your advice!</p>