How to Find an Affordable College Without Breaking the Bank
Guest Post by Candice Sunseri of College Path Consulting
Candice Sunseri, Certified Educational Planner and founder of College Path Consulting, helping a student navigate the college search process.
If you’re like most of the families I’ve worked with over the years, the cost of college is never far from your mind. I’m delighted to introduce The College Prep Corner, a series covering topics that I hope will be helpful and informative for anyone navigating the road to college.
For our first post, I’m featuring Candice Sunseri, a Certified Educational Planner based in Moorpark, California, who specializes in helping families find great colleges that fit their budget. I think you’ll find her article both reassuring and eye-opening. She shares some specific schools and scholarship amounts that may surprise you.
— Rick
As a Certified Educational Planner, I help high school students find and apply to great-fit colleges. What’s a great fit college? One that has the atmosphere, location, level of support, and academic programs the student desires, but that’s also affordable. Paying for college is like buying a new car every year! It can feel overwhelming to think about. But “we’ll figure something out after she gets in,” is not the solution. Determining a budget and finding colleges in that price range is.
The biggest piece of the puzzle is saving. Start saving for college as early as possible. Talk to a financial planner about your best options. Once your student gets to high school, kick up your savings as much as possible by cutting back any way you can. If one parent is working part-time (or not working), this might be the time to look for a full-time job, and put the extra money toward college.
Are You Making Too Much for Financial Aid?
But even after saving, you may find yourself in the place many families in high-cost-of-living areas do: you make too much money for financial aid, but you haven’t been able to save enough to pay for a private or out-of-state college. You need in-state tuition, but the state college your student wants is getting more competitive every year. UCLA–9% acceptance, UC Berkeley–10%, University of Michigan–17%, University of Virginia–16%. So, where can you get help finding an affordable college where your student can get in?
Merit Scholarships from Out-of-State Colleges Are the Answer
I encourage the students and families I work with to broaden their search, both in terms of geography and “prestige.” I tour 20–30 colleges a year to find out what they offer students, both academically and financially, and I’ve yet to find one that wouldn’t be a fit for the right student. Be on the lookout for colleges that offer automatic merit scholarships (based on grades, not financial need) that can bring the cost down to about the same as (or even lower than) your in-state college. Think of it as a coupon! In the scholarship universe, merit scholarships directly from the college, designed to entice your good student to choose their college, are where the big money is.
The key to finding these affordable college gems is to know which ones offer your student the things they want—whether it’s big sports, a city location perfect for internships, or a particular major—and the merit aid they need. Here are three of my favorite merit scholarship schools:
The University of Alabama offers the school spirit and athletic fandom many students want. They’re also tops in affordability. A 3.5 weighted GPA and a 1200 SAT/25 ACT will earn an out-of-state student a scholarship worth $24,000 over four years, bringing tuition + room/board to around $40,000/yr. Get that score up to 1420/32, you’re bringing yearly tuition + room/board to under $30,000. That may be less than your in-state public university! A student with a 4.0 weighted GPA and a perfect ACT or SAT score will qualify for FREE tuition!
The University of Dayton is proof that a private university can cost less than a public. The business school at UD is tops, and the local area is home to plenty of corporations for internships opportunities. On campus, Flyer Enterprises operates 13 student-run businesses for hands-on experience. A Top 25 campus for best food and best dorms, and a supportive environment give the UD community of 8400 students plenty of reasons to be happy. Merit scholarships of $17,000-$31,000/yr. are offered, and with high grades, tuition + room/board could be around $35,000.
Texas Tech University has become a popular choice among my students. They love seeing the Red Rider on horseback leading the football team onto the field and appreciate the hands-on learning focus. Students with a minimum 3.0 and 1100/22 test score get at least a $1000 scholarship, PLUS in-state tuition (a savings of about $12K!). Test optional 3.5 GPA students get the same deal. Students with very high grades and test scores can qualify for $9000/year, making out of state tuition + room/board around $20,000/year!
Also, check into tuition reciprocity programs, like WUE in the Western States, The Academic Common Market in the South, the MSEP in the Midwest, and the NEBHE in the New England states. Going to a neighboring state’s public university may be within reach if they participate. A location a little farther from home may be the ticket to affording a college education. The higher the GPA and test scores, the more scholarship opportunities there are. But even B-students can pull in some major scholarship money if they know where to apply.
—Candice Sunseri owns College Path Consulting, LLC in Moorpark CA and specializes in finding colleges that will fit the family budget. She’s an expert on the UC and CSU applications. A former book editor, she also offers professional college essay feedback. You can reach Candice on her cell at 805-990-3965, or check her out on Facebook and Instagram.