Here is a bit more context: My son is currently a sophomore in high school in Austin, Texas. Academically he is in the top 20% of his class, but has struggled with the PSAT. Our household income is around $70,000, but we also have a 12 year old daughter that will be attending college in the next 6 years as well. My wife and I both want to help our son, but we also want to try to avoid any pitfalls that lead to significant student loan debt for him, and hopefully preserve our retirement as well. If you have any advice on how to minimize student loan debt, I’d love to know your thoughts!
The federal government limits student loan debt to a total of $27,000. He is only allowed to take out loans in his name for $5,500 freshman year, $6,500 sophomore year, and $7,500 each of junior and senior years. Any other loans have to be in your name OR co-signed by you.
One way to no have debt is to go to a college where he is eligible for merit scholarships. Once you know is SAT/ACT scores, you’ll know where he can attend with merit money.
Another way is to go to community college, which is very low cost, then transfer to a four-year college to where he can commute.
Finally, if his scores are high enough, he can apply to colleges that meet full financial need. These colleges are the most generous with need-based aid, and you might be eligible for it.
- Look for cheaper schools. In-state school are usually much cheaper than private/out of state schools
- Look to get as many college credits as you can in HS.
a)Your state may have a “running start” or “dual enrollment” program where you can take college courses for free in HS
b) Take AP or IB classes and do well on the AP/IB tests so you can get college credit - Look for scholarships
a) Apply to colleges where your stats are significantly above average to get merit scholarshops
b) Look at Net Price Calculators on colleges to see if you would get need based financial aid
c) Look for colleges with auto-scholarship based on gpa/sat http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/ - Have your son study for SAT on Khan Academy
- Go to community college for two years, and then transfer to a state school
If your son has good curriculum rigor he could apply to 100% need LACs. A 70k income would result in a near fullride.
Some are test optional like Bowdoin and others are test flexible (meaning he’d take one math, one humanities, one free choice SAT subject). The application when test optional has to demonstrate qualities, achievement, and impact in a way that bypasses the need for a standardized test.
However most would require 1400 test scores.
It’s really important for you to calculate your EFC asap and see whether it is affordable (often, it isn’t). Try to save some money in a college fund for him - even $100 a month can come in handy down the line. If he doesn’t have a part time job, even 8 hours a week can help (It’s an ec and any money saved is good).
Then, calculate his budget : 5.5k loan + (15k) from you + 1/4 parents savings + his full savings =x.
Then, run the NPC on Whitman, Dickinson, Denison, Bates, Skidmore, Texas State, Southwestern.
UT Austin is probably a good idea for him, if you can afford it, and if he can get in.
^He’s top 20%. 75% spots at UT are for top 7% students. The rest is divided between athletes, “academic admits” (ie, very strong students who are roughly top 10%), international and OOS students…
In addition, Texas publics don’t meet need and there’s a state loan instead of/in addition to a state grant to help pay.