Everyone is rightly concerned about the costs of post-high school education. I often describe college costs as “funny money” because it can be quite unsettling to hear statements like “community college is only $1,000 a semester” or “public school is pretty inexpensive compared to public universities at $25,000 a year”.
There are so many things to take into consideration when considering the costs of a college education. As you begin researching colleges and universities, you first want to count the cost.
What are the costs associated with your student’s school choices? The total cost generally includes the following: tuition, fees, books, living expenses, food expenses, travel expenses, and miscellaneous expenses. A couple of places to do research and compare costs is to look at Niche.com, USNews&WorldReport.com, and BigFuture/CollegeBoard.org. Each of these resources has a Net Calculator and basic cost charts for you to compare each school.
I suggest considering both private and public colleges and universities. Private schools can be more expensive, but they also provide more scholarship opportunities. As you explore your options, one important factor to consider is the percentage of students receiving financial aid. Some schools have rates as high as 99%, ensuring that nearly all attending students receive some form of financial assistance, such as grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Another crucial figure to examine is the Net Price, which reveals the average expenses after accounting for scholarships and awards.
In the fall of your student’s senior year, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In Texas, all public school students must complete the form before graduation. Even as a homeschool student, most colleges and universities will require the FAFSA for the student to receive financial aid. Below are links for the FAFSA and other relevant forms.
FAFSA – federal and state grants, work study and loans
CSS Profile – non-federal institutional aid for participating universities
TAFSA – state of Texas grants and loans for non-citizens and non-permanent resident students
Your next source of scholarships and academic awards come from the institution themselves. These can be based on many factors and are unique to each college and university. There are numerous scholarships even for 2-year colleges and technical schools. With some state schools, the scholarship applications are built into the ApplyTexas and CommonApp application. I recommend meeting with a Financial Aid officer from all the schools your student is accepted to review their many scholarship opportunities.
The time students spend looking for and applying for college scholarships is very valuable. It’s like having a job that pays $500 per hour. It’s really worth the effort. There are a lot of resources available online for finding scholarships. The more specific you are in your search, the better chance you have of getting a scholarship. For instance, you can look for scholarships that match your ancestry, your college major, or the area you live in. Here are some of my favorite search engines for finding personalized scholarships:
Find Your Christian College/Financial Aid
FAFSA Checklist: ICanSucceed.org
For additional and more in-depth assistance, I can recommend Yorkshire College Planning.
Looking for in-depth guidance on assisting your student in choosing a major, researching colleges and scholarships? Explore the different opportunities I offer to meet your family’s needs which include Aptitude and Interest Advising, College and Career Classes, Finding Financial Aid Workshops, and Completing the College Application Workshops. I thoroughly enjoy meeting families for personalized consultations to devise the best high school and college plans for your student(s).
Reach out at my Contact Me page or email me at sharianne@ccctoolbox.com
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