Paying for College

PAYING FOR COLLEGE - Financial Aid Standard Educational Expenses The cost of attending college includes a number of elements. Colleges and universities estimate the cost of attending their institution for three different living situations. Select the living situation below to see the range of costs by type of college.

Costs here are estimates for the 2011-12 academic year and are not a guarantee of fees or your actual costs for other expenses.

The fees displayed in the charts below at the California Community Colleges, California State University, and the University of California are for California residents only. Nonresidents pay an additional $22,878 in tuition and fees at UC, $11,160 at CSU, and about $180 more per unit at the California Community Colleges. In general, dependent students whose parents have been in California or independent students who have been in California more than one year are considered state residents. For more information on residency for determining fee levels, please see the websites of the college in which you are interested. Independent colleges have a range of tuition and fees from $9,500 to $39,000 and usually do not have additional tuition for nonresidents.

For on-campus living arrangements, this includes the cost of the dorm or apartment and any meal plan the student might have. It may also include estimates of groceries and eating out for students with small meal plans. Off-campus estimates include rent, groceries, and utilities. Commuter estimates include any rent paid to the student's parents, as well as groceries and utilities. Miscellaneous costs include estimates for personal expenses, entertainment, transportation, and, at some colleges, an allowance for health insurance.

The following data is from CaliforniaCollege.edu. For more information click on the following hyperlink: www.californiacolleges.edu/finance/how-much-doescollege-cost.asp Living On-campus

Fees/Tuition Books and supplies Room and board Miscellaneous TOTAL

Fees/Tuition Books and supplies Room and board Miscellaneous TOTAL

Fees/Tuition Books and supplies Room and board Miscellaneous TOTAL

California Community Colleges

California State University (CSU)

University of California (UC)

$864*

$6,489

$13,200

California Independent Colleges (based on median costs) $30,144

$1,656

$1,652

$1,500

$1,455

$7,800** $3,096 $13,416

$10,607 $3,829 $22,577 Living Off-campus

$13,200 $3,300 $31,200

$9,330 $3,218 $45,147

California Community Colleges

California State University (CSU)

University of California (UC)

$864*

$6,489

$13,200

California Independent Colleges (based on median costs) $30,144

$1,656

$1,652

$1,500

$2,455

$10,863 $4,059 $17,442

$11,379 $9,500 $4,041 $4,200 $23,561 $28,400 Living With Parents/Commuting from Home

$9,330 $3,812 $45,901

California Community Colleges

California State University (CSU)

University of California (UC)

$864*

$6,489

$13,200

California Independent Colleges (based on median costs) $30,144

$1,656

$1,652

$1,500

$2,455

$4,347 $4,185 $11,052

$4,253 $4,074 $16,469

$4,400 $4,300 $23,400

$3,880 $3,812 $40,291

* Estimate is for 12 units/semester **Few community colleges have on-campus housing; actual cost varies based upon number of meals included.

Other Expenses Some students may have other expenses related to their education. These might include costs for the purchase of a computer, child care expenses, disability expenses, and nonresident tuition. If you need assistance to cover these types of extra expenses, talk to your campus financial aid officer to see if aid is available.

Types of Financial Aid Programs for Students in California Take a look at how simple financial aid can be. To apply for many types of financial aid (federal and state) you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each year you are requesting aid.

For a more comprehensive list of major financial aid programs in California, click here: Print Financial Aid Programs in California PDF

Grants. Think of a grant as the ultimate graduation gift, because you don't have to pay it back.

Pell Grants (federal aid) are awarded to low-income students and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are for low-income students with exceptional financial need.

Cal Grants (state aid) are free money guaranteed to every high school senior that applies on time and meets income, eligibility and GPA requirements. See below for more information about Cal Grants.

Work-Study. Work at a part-time job that may help you with a career, and use the earnings to help finance your education.

Scholarships. Free money for college, usually based on your area of study or merit, such as good grades, high test scores, athletic, musical or other special talents, community service and sometimes financial need.

Loans. Federal loans are low-interest loans that come in all shapes and sizes.

Perkins Loans are administered by the college and are for students with exceptional financial need.

Subsidized Stafford Loans are available to students who meet financial requirements and are attending school at least half-time. With this loan, the government pays the interest from when you get the loan money until up to six months after you leave school. An unsubsidized Stafford Loan is available to any student regardless of financial need, but the student pays the interest.

PLUS Loans are available for the parents of students attending college.

Applying for Financial Aid (FAFSA) - What you need to do If there is any chance you might need money for college you should apply for financial aid. It costs nothing to apply. To apply for federal and state financial aid, you'll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

You'll find it on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov and on paper, in both English and Spanish. Many colleges also use the FAFSA to award their own grants and scholarships. The FAFSA asks for information about you, your family, your finances and your college plans. Filing online is the fastest way to file. The online FAFSA also automatically catches common errors before you finish the application.

The application period begins on January 1st for the next academic year. For example, if you want money for classes beginning in September 2010, the application period begins on January 1, 2010. You may file a FAFSA from January 1st all the way through the next 18 months. The application period ends in June at the end of the academic year.

For a Cal Grant, you must submit your verified GPA as well as the FAFSA. In addition, a number of other California state aid programs require their own application forms besides the FAFSA. Are there deadlines? YES! Each college sets a deadline for "priority" filing of the FAFSA. You must file by that date to get a chance at the best money available. Below are some specific dates to keep in mind.

When do you need to file?

When is the best time to file? As early as possible! File as soon after January 1st as you can. If you decide to attend after January 1st, file as soon as you decide to attend college.

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If you want to be considered for state grants, you should file your FAFSA by March 2nd.

The University of California and the California State University (all campuses of both systems) use March 2nd as their priority date.

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The independent colleges set varying dates. Some want the FAFSA as early as mid-January or February 1st, so check the priority filing date with every college in which you are interested. Often independent colleges require additional forms, such as the College Board's CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®, or have their own supplemental forms to determine who receives institutional or private aid dollars. Be sure to check directly with the financial aid office of each college you're considering.

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The California Community Colleges will be able to serve you with better financial aid if you apply early, but applications are encouraged throughout the 18-month cycle. If you plan to attend a California Community College in the fall, you should meet the March 2nd deadline, even though you have a "second-chance" deadline of September 2nd. That's because there are only a limited number of the popular Competitive Cal Grant awards available in the fall. However, completing the FAFSA as soon as you know you will be attending is your best course of action.

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The best advice? File early! Meet the earliest deadline of all the colleges you are considering and then you have met all the deadlines.

Cal Grant awards are state funded monetary grants given to students to help pay for college expenses.

• The awards do not have to be paid back. You apply for all Cal Grants when completing your FAFSA and having your school provide a GPA Verification form to the California Student Aide Commission (CSAC).

• Selection is based on financial need, academic performance, and other factors. Cal Grant A is available to assist with registration fees for low- and middle-income students; for Cal Grant B, disadvantaged background is also considered; for Cal Grant C, vocational interest and aptitude are considered.

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You must apply for a Cal Grant by the March 2 deadline. GPA Verification forms are available in the OPHS Counseling Office after the Winter Holiday break. The forms must be submitted to our Registrar, Pat Ramirez who does the GPA Verification.

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For more information about the Cal Grant program you can go to the following website: www.calgrants.org

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Or at the following link on the OPHS website: Cal Grants

Cal Grants may be used at any California Community College, UC, CSU, Private School and most Career/Technical Schools. If you are a California graduating high school senior or recent graduate, or just got your GED, and meet academic, financial and eligibility requirements and submit two forms by March 2 then you may qualify for a Cal Grant for college or career or technical school.

To be eligible for a Cal Grant you must: • •

Submit the FAFSA and your verified Cal Grant GPA by the deadline.

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (your parents don’t need to be citizens or eligible noncitizens)

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Be a California resident when you graduated from high school

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Have a Social Security number

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Attend a qualifying California college

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Not have a bachelor’s or professional degree (except for Cal Grant A and B extended awards for a teaching credential program).

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Have financial need based on your college costs

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Have family income and assets below the established ceilings

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Meet any minimum GPA requirements. Click here for information about how to calculate your Cal Grant GPA: How to calculate the Cal Grant GPA

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Be in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate

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Be enrolled at least half time

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Have registered with U.S. Selective Service (most males)

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Not owe a refund on a state or federal grant, or be in default on a student loan

AVAILABLE CAL GRANTS What Cal Grant is Right for you?

There are several types of Cal Grant awards. Chances are, there's one that's just perfect for you. Each of the Cal Grants listed below are for students pursuing an undergraduate associate's or bachelor's degree or an occupational training

program. If you are a high school senior, a recent high school graduate or you just got your GED, and you meet all the requirements and you apply by the deadline, you are guaranteed to receive a Cal Grant Entitlement award.

ABOUT Cal Grants A, B & C Cal Grant A Entitlement awards can be used for tuition and fees at public and private colleges as well as some private career colleges. At CSU and UC schools, this Cal Grant covers systemwide fees up to $4,429 and $10,302 respectively. If you are attending a private college, it pays up to $9,708 toward tuition and fees. To get this Cal Grant, you need to be working toward a two-year or four-year degree.

Cal Grant B Entitlement awards provides low-income students with a living allowance and assistance with tuition and fees. Most first-year students receive an allowance of up to $1,551 for books and living expenses. After the freshman year, Cal Grant B also helps pay tuition and fees in the same amount as a Cal Grant A. For a Cal Grant B, your coursework must be for at least one academic year.

Cal Grant C awards help pay for tuition and training costs at occupational or career technical schools. This $576 award is for books, tools and equipment. You may also receive up to an additional $2,592 for tuition at a school other than a California Community College. To qualify, you must enroll in a vocational program that is at least four months long at a California Community College, private college, or a career technical school. Funding is available for up to two years, depending on the length of your program.

Cal Grant A and B Competitive Awards are for students who aren't eligible for the Entitlement awards. The main difference is that these awards are not guaranteed.

Cal Grant A Competitive Awards are for students with a minimum 3.0 GPA who are from low-and middle-income families. These awards help pay tuition and fees at qualifying schools with academic programs that are at least two years in length.

Cal Grant B Competitive Awards are for students with a minimum 2.0 GPA who are from disadvantaged and lowincome families. These awards can be used for tuition, fees and access costs at qualifying schools whose programs are at least one year in length. If you get a Cal Grant B Competitive Award it can only be used for access costs in the first year. These costs include living expenses, transportation, supplies and books. Beginning with the second year, you can use your Cal Grant B Competitive Award to help pay tuition and fees at public or private four-year colleges or other qualifying schools.

2011-12 Cal Grant Program Income Ceilings Applicant’s family income includes the total taxable and non-taxable income, as reported on the FAFSA. Basic award amounts and eligibility criteria are subject to final authorization and changes in the state budget act.

Dependent students and Independent students with dependents other than a spouse Family size:

A and C

B

Six or more

$90,300

$49,600

Five

$83,800

$46,000

Four

$78,100

$41,100

Three

$71,900

$36,900

Two

$70,200

$32,800

Independent students Single, no dependents

$28,600

$28,600

Married, no other dependents $32,800

$32,800

2011-12 Cal Grant Program Asset Ceilings Dependent students** $60,500 Independent students $28,800 ** These ceilings also apply to independent students with dependents other than a spouse.

Print Cal Grant Ceilings in PDF What can I do now?

Be sure to contact your college financial aid office for more financial aid opportunities.

If you plan to attend a California Community College this fall, you have another opportunity to compete for a community college award during the September 2nd award competition. Another 11,250 Cal Grant awards will be available at that time to qualified applicants. Talk to your California Community College about applying for this next opportunity for a Cal Grant!

How to Apply for the Cal Grant:

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Starting January 1st file your FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or get an application from your school. At Oak Park High School our registrar Pat Ramirez manually verifies the GPA and gives the GPA verification form back to the student to mail. The GPA Verification forms will be available in the OPHS Counseling Office in January or can be downloaded in PDF format from the following link: Cal Grant GPA Verification Form pdf Sign and mail the GPA Verification form from the Post Office prior to March 2nd. Make sure to request a “Certificate of Mailing from the Post Office as evidence of having met the postmark deadline.

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To check out the status of your Cal Grant application go to the Web Grants 4 Students web page at: https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/logon.asp and access your information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Web addresses: www.csac.ca.gov and www.calgrants.org

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If you have any questions, send an e-mail to studentsupport@csac.ca.gov or call 1-888-CA-GRANT (1-888-2247268)

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® is a financial aid application service of the College Board While the FAFSA Financial Aid Application is the quintessentially required form in the financial aid world, it’s not the only form you’ll be expected to fill out, especially if you are applying to any private colleges. Several hundred private colleges and some public colleges also require another form originated by the College Board, the CSS Profile: The College Scholarship Service Profile.

The profile is college specific, and is used to determine aid eligibility for non-federal financial aid, such as institutional scholarships and grants. This form tends to be more detailed than the FAFSA, and focuses on information needed pertaining to specific programs at each school. Having a separate form allows the school to ask more tailored questions.

Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile is not free. The FAFSA can be submitted beginning on January 1 (or first business day of the new year). The CSS Profile can be submitted prior to January 1.

Each financial aid application uses different needs analysis formulas. Among other differences, the methodology used takes into account home equity, and also assumes contribution from the student. The CSS Profile asks you to separate your income throughout the year by season, and requires detailed reports of your assets, medical expenses, tuition reimbursements, scholarships and family gifts.

The Profile can be accessed at the following website: http://profileonline.collegeboard.com/index.jsp UNDERSTANDING COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID AWARDS New York - Associated Press Sunday, March 19, 2011 College financial aid awards aren't always as generous as they seem. To accurately compare the cost of attending various schools, students and parents will need to take a closer look at exactly what type of aid is being offered — and on what terms.

"Gift aid and loans are very different. And even within loans there are big differences," said Myra Smith, executive director of financial aid services at The College Board. "It can be hard for families to decipher the information without sitting down and thinking about it."

Other details can skew the value of an aid package too. In some cases, grants and scholarships may not be renewable or could be contingent on the maintenance of a higher-than-expected grade point average. As award letters start rolling in, there are three big figures to watch for: the school's estimated cost of attendance, the total amount of aid awarded and the difference that needs to be paid out of pocket. Here are some points to keep in mind beyond the numbers: COST OF ATTENDANCE There shouldn't be any surprises when looking over the price tag for tuition, fees, and room and board. But the cost of attendance cited in a college's financial aid award letter will also include estimates for books, supplies, and living and transportation expenses.

Those estimates can vary significantly depending on the student. So what you end up paying could be far higher or lower than the school's projection. "Some students may need $200 a month for living expenses, others might need a lot more," said Smith. "Parents should have a better idea of the student's spending habits than the school." Students who live out of state should also consider how much more they might need to spend in transportation costs. Even the cost of books and supplies can vary significantly depending on the student's major.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS A key figure to look for is the amount of gift aid being awarded; this is money that doesn't need to be earned or repaid. For grants and scholarships that are based on merit, make sure you're aware of the academic standard that needs to be maintained. Many freshmen struggle to adjust to the course work in college. That means holding onto grants and scholarships isn't always a given, even for students who previously had stellar academic records. Additionally, be sure that the grant or scholarship is renewable for all four years.

State or federal grants, meanwhile, are based on financial need and students need to reapply on a yearly basis. So a grant may no longer be available if the student's financial situation changes.

LOANS & WORK STUDY When comparing aid awards, families often focus on the total aid being offered and lose sight of the financial toll loans can take after graduation. Schools no longer include private loans as part of their awards, but federal loans still make up 43 percent of aid packages, according to The College Board. There are several types of federal loans, but the main feature to check for is whether it's subsidized.

This means the government picks up the cost of interest while the student is in school, which will make a huge difference in the amount the student owes at graduation.

Financial Aid & Scholarship Resources on the Internet: •

Academic Competitiveness & National SMART Grants: Thcurrent college students and high school seniors to apply for new Academic Competitiveness Grants and National SMART Grants for the 2006-07 academic year. Students who completed rigorous coursework in high school or who are pursuing degrees in math, science and critical foreign languages are eligible for a portion of

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$790 million in new federal funding for higher education. For more information go to: http://www.ed.gov/ BrokeScholar This is a free scholarship search engine connecting students and parents with financial aid and college scholarships.

The Broke Scholar database matches student profiles with more than 900,000 scholarships worth over $3 billion to find the most relevant and obtainable opportunities. It can be accessed at: https://www.brokescholar.com/

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California Student Aid Commission This site is for the student or parent to assist in your search for State, federal and institutional financial aid information for funding post-high school education. It can be accessed at: http://www.csac.ca.gov/

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CollegeAnswer.com web page has detailed information on education savings plans, school costs, ways to pay for college, scholarships, and the student financial aid process (from estimating your (EFC) Estimated Family Contribution, to completing the FAFSA and reviewing the (SAR) Student Aid Report. It can be accessed at: http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp

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Collegenet.com allows you to search for scholarships two ways - A Keyword Search if you already know something about the scholarship you are looking for. Enter a series of keywords to find all scholarships that contain those same words in their name or description. A Profile Search looks for scholarships that match your personal profile.

Provide as little or as much information as you want to find the scholarships that you are most qualified to receive. This service can be accessed at: http://www.collegenet.com/mach25/app

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College Toolkit is one-stop resource for life after high school allowing students to find and apply for scholarships, search through a database of more than 4,000 colleges, and explore 900 careers all in one location. It is one of the most comprehensive sites for life after high school... and everything on the site is free for students to use! This website can be accessed at: http://www.collegetoolkit.com/

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EDFUND is a private, nonprofit corporation offering student loan services. This website provides a wealth of college financial planning tools. It can be accessed at: http://www.edfund.org/wps/portal/

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FAFSA4caster allows you and your family to receive an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid. This Web site provides you with an opportunity to increase your knowledge of the financial aid process; become familiar with the various types of federal student aid that are available; and investigate other sources of aid, such as grants and scholarships. To access this website go to: http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/index/index.jsf

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FASTWeb is a free searchable database of more than 600,000 private sector scholarships, grants, fellowships and loans. It is absolutely the most "cutting edge" method of researching scholarship information, and it is updated daily (approximately 1,200 per day). To access the Financial Aid Information page on the Internet type: http://edu.fastweb.com/ For more information on fastWEB call 1-800-327-8932.

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Finaid.org is an overall financial aid site with information on loans and scholarships, and a financial aid calculator that can help you determine whether you qualify for need-based aid and what your family's (EFC) Estimated Financial Contribution will be. It can be accessed at: http://www.finaid.org/

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Financial Aid Letter.com is a website where you canread real college financial aid award letters. Decode confusing (and sometimes misleading) loan and scholarship information. Translate financial aid jargon and acronyms into plain English. Get great tips on raising extra college cash, cutting costs, and making that degree more affordable. Find out why you deserve clear and complete cost information, and why colleges aren't delivering it. It can be accessed at: http://www.financialaidletter.com/

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HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation's leading Hispanic scholarship organization, providing the Hispanic community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. In its 34 year history, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund has awarded close to $280M in scholarships to more than 90,000 students in need. Two-thirds of these students were the first in their families to go to college. It can be accessed at: http://hsf.net/default.aspx

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Kaarme.com provides free college and scholarship information for high school students. Unlike other college and scholarship websites however, Kaarme.com does not profit from the sale of student information to third parties. Begun by a group of concerned parents who were dissatisfied with the status quo, Kaarme.com’s Scholarship Section is the only one available that does not require students to register and submit personal information which is then sold to any company willing to pay for it. For more information go to: http://www.kaarme.com/

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Golden State ScholarShare College Savings Trust is California's state and federally tax-free "529" college savings program. At this website you can also learn more about the Governor's Scholarship Program. Although the program has not been funded since 2002 awards granted in prior years can be claimed online at this site as well: http://www.scholarshare.com/

Financial Aid & Scholarship Resources on the Internet (continued): • MeritAid.com is the Web's first comprehensive directory of merit scholarships from colleges. We want to make it easy for you to understand how much merit aid is available to you from colleges across the country before you apply. The site can be accessed at:

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http://www.meritaid.com/index.jsp National Center for Educational Statistics This web site tells you the average award amount at each school, how many students receive aid and various other statistics. You can also find this information in many college handbooks. It can be accessed at: http://www.nces.ed.gov/

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NAVIANCE To view local scholarships that are available through the OPHS College & Career Center login to Naviance by clicking on the icon. Once you login click on the "Scholarship List" link. If you do not yet have a Naviance password you can contact Mrs. Wohlwerth in the College & Career Center, or you can simply login as a "Guest." Mrs. Wohlwerth's contact information is: 818-7353315 or via email at: cdispaltro@oakparkusd.org

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Scholarships.com Each Scholarships.com user answers a detailed questionnaire, providing information about their academics, extracurricular activities, and individual background. We then use this data to generate a customized list of grant and scholarship opportunities that match the student's qualifications. At the heart of this process is our industry-leading scholarship database–the most comprehensive and accurate compilation of national, state, local, and college-based scholarships and grants available anywhere: http://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/

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Scholarship Hunter is a free service that allows you to search for scholarships by major and by state. It also has a comprehensive listing of scholarship sweepstakes & essay contests. It can be accessed at: http://scholarshiphunter.com

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SchoolSoup has the largest scholarship database in the world. Their search engine will find scholarships that match your interests and profile by searching through $32 Billion worth of scholarships. They also provide links to Test Prep services, online textbooks and a college search engine! It can be accessed at: http://schoolsoup.com/

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SimpleTution.com Borrowing for educational expenses leaves many students and their families feeling lost - and they are not alone.

With so many lenders offering so many versions of basic loan types, it can be hard to find the financing option that's best for each individual's situation. That's where SimpleTuition comes in. It is designed to help students and families find their way to the ideal student loan or financing option for educational expenses, and to help them take action. It can be accessed at: www.simpletuition.com

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Student Scholarship Search provides students and parents with a FREE searchable database of college scholarships and grants.

No registration required. Scholarships updated daily. It can be accessed at: http://www.studentscholarshipsearch.com

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The U.S. Department of Education site has information about federal aid programs, and includes recommendations and tips for parents and students on how to pay for college. It can be accessed at: www.studentaid.ed.gov

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Web Grants 4 Students is where you can check the status of your Cal Grant application at: https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/logon.asp and access your grant information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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The WESTERN UNDERGRADUATE EXCHANGE (WUE) is a program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Students who are residents of WICHE states are eligible to request a reduced tuition rate of 150% of resident tuition at participating two- and four-year college programs outside of their home state. It can be accessed at: http://wue.wiche.edu/