Hello everyone, so I got accepted into vcu kind of late (end of June) as a transfer student and I saw that I am basically getting no grants and only being offered loans which is not even enough to cover the school year aka I’d have to take out private student loans bc my mom can’t afford to pay my tuition o.o.p. I really wanted the college experience and moving away from home but I didn’t think their financial aid package would be only loans. I got accepted in gmu and their financial aid package was so much better. They’re giving me a good amount in grants and overall more in loans although I’d still have to take out some private ones. I’d save a lot of money going to mason also bc I live in NoVa and would be able to drive 35 minutes to school but I wouldn’t be getting the college experience I wanted. BASICALLY what I am trying to decide, is Vcu life really worth being in extra student loan debt? How has your experience at Vcu been that would make you say you don’t regret or regret your student loan debt? I’m very stressed rn just bc I’ve wanyed to come to vcu since I started college and now I may not be able to go bc of the cost. Any input wether it’s helpful or tough critiscim would be appreciated 
This is where, as the saying goes, the metal hits the road. When you learn that you will need to borrow more than the standard federal loans, it is time to review your options because you have passed the limit of ready affordability.
GMU requires some private loans. VCU requires a lot more. So formally, even GMU is not affordable. However, commuting to GMU is significantly closer to affordable than VCU is. Provided you and your mom (who presumably is your co-signer for those private loans) can borrow what you need for GMU, then go there. It may not be the college experience you had dreamed of when you were in high school, but trust me, your post-college self will be a lot happier paying down that smaller amount of debt. Commuting to GMU also gives you more flexibility as a student. If at any point you find that it is better to study part-time, you won’t need to cut all the way back to taking only one class at a time because your living expenses will be lower with your mom.
There are really good loan calculators at www,finaid,org. Scroll to the bottom of the main page and click on the calculatir link to find them.
For help with sorting through the details of your aid package, visit the Financial Aid Forum here.
Wishing you all the best!