<p>I started a thread yesterday here titled “How Families Sometimes Do It” giving a real life example of our cousin who will be going to a private college this fall. He had also applied to 3 local school, a state school (non flagship but 4 year), a private Catholic college and community college. His stats made all three safeties for him, though the full sticker price for tuition was high . He got full tuition awards for the two four year schools, but only a nominal award from the community college. So his least expensive option would have been commuting to either of the 4 year school even though the CC had the lowest sticker price. The cost for the private school he chose, was just a couple of thousand dollars more than what the state flag ship would have cost him after all was said and done. </p>
<p>Perkins is something that schools apply to get, and they only get a limited number to give out. They are supposed to go the the PELL eligible kids, the neediest first and what’s left is then distributed to others, if anything is left. There is no guarantee anyone will get a Perkins even from year to year.</p>