My family is VERY financially restricted- but we live in the most expensive county in the country. We moved here for job opportunities (close to NYC) and the amazing public school education because my parents did not want to sacrifice our education when it came to finances. We make slightly less than 60 K a year, which may seem high, but in reality the majority of our money goes to taxes (extremely high in area, one of the highest in the country), as well as bills and paying our landlord. I work two jobs to help support my family, as well as my mom working overtime w/ two jobs and my father being unemployed for about six years now. I’m so scared to apply for FA because my mom is certain that with our situation, we will be OKAY. She thinks that as long as we apply to need blind schools, everything will work out. Will colleges merely see that my family is white, living in an affluent area- or will they understand that the amount of money that we make has essentially put us into poverty in the area that we live in? Merely paying rent for us each month is a stretch.
Have you filled out the NPC for some universities yet (Net Price Calculator)? This should give you an idea of what colleges might expect your family to pay. They take into account family size, income, and assets-- they don’t take into account anything you mentioned: location, race, or reason for living in location.
That’s what I’m worried about- 60K is a lot higher than it seems. For us, the majority of that money goes to taxes, etc. If they aren’t able to see that we live in an excessively expensive area, will they just assume that we make more than we actually do? @purpleacorn
Paying rent or a mortgage is a stretch for many families with kids going to college. I don’t think anyone here will think that $60K is high, but it is well within the average of some of us. Pick out a few schools that interest you and run the NPC to see if they are affordable. If not, start another list with schools that are less expensive, 100% need met or that offer merit awards based on your stats.
My question was whether or not they will see, and take into consideration, that I live in one of the most expensive countys in America, not necessarily that we have trouble paying rent (which a lot of people do).
Colleges won’t assume anything, they will look at the actual tax documents and see what you make and how much you pay in taxes. The FAFSA formula takes the taxes paid into consideration. The formula doesn’t take cost of living into consideration.
Most schools are need blind for admissions. A few are not.
I doubt it, anymore than they look at consumer debt. While I understand that where you live is not necessarily a choice for everyone, it is for some, much like someone who drives a new car vs. someone who drives a beater.
“Need blind”?
Don’t you mean “100% meets need”?
I don’t understand how that’s fair representation though. Someone living in a very inexpensive area, making the same amount of money, would have a FAR easier way of life financially. How would not looking at taxes and cost of living in the area not factor in? We have no money because of unemployment and living in such an expensive area, which completely sucks away the majority of our income. @NEPatsGirl
How will your mom make ends meet once you go off to college and can’t work two jobs?
Can your dad take over your two jobs or is there a disability situation?
I’m not even considering my dad working because he won’t. I don’t want to go into details. I also don’t really know and don’t want to discuss how my mom will make ends meet because that’s a future that is very uncertain…
I was just simply asking whether or not FAFSA accounts for, or colleges see, the cost of living in some areas of the country over others, and whether or not the rate of taxes in certain areas would factor into financial aid. The majority of our money goes towards taxes- after that we really have nothing left @Madison85
many of the top schools offer full tuition financial aid for families whose income is less than 60000-65000 dollars per year. If your GPA and test scores qualify for these top schools then you should research which ones have that financial aid policy and include those in your choices
Good luck
What top schools are you referring to specifically? I have a 3.72/32 ACT w/ 36 writing but I might retake. @fleishmo6
Try here for scholarships.
If you fill out a FA form, then the school knows your family’s income/asset situation, so I don’t get where the stereotyping issue comes up.
The issue, though, is that less expensive areas of the country present far fewer opportunities to make the same amount of money.
For the same job, higher cost-of-living areas tend to correlate with people getting paid more, and lower cost-of-living areas with being paid less. Also, lower cost-of-living areas generally (though not always, of course!) have worse public infrastructure, including schools.
There are more variables here than it seems you’re considering.
I’ve found the opposite to be true though- my dad has been unable to find work and my moms job is slightly above minimum wage. The majority of our money comes from my mom running her own business around her work hours, where she teaches voice and piano. We are by no means “paid more”. In some cases, yes that is true but not always. @dfbdfb
It isn’t the income I’m asking about- 60K for us seems like more than it is. The majority of our money goes towards taxes in the area, where it is the highest in the country. Will colleges really not see that? Do they just assume that w 60K, you’re living in a low cost area? @GMTplus7
60k is only modestly above US median household income, but probably well below the median for college-bound households. No school is going to mistake 60k for upper income ANYWHERE in the country.
Seriously, you are worried about nothing.
OP, what are the results when you use the Net Price Calculator on the website of each college on your list?