Explain Cali financial aid to an old guy

[alimarx]

Yes, I've gone to the financial aid offices at my community college and at a couple of the 4-years I'm looking to transfer to. The answers I've gotten range from "Well, it depends onyourindividualsituationfilloutthisform..." to "Well, DUH!"- no real help.


Background: I originally went to a local, east coast, cheap, state college right out of high school in the mid-80s. I may have gotten a small scholarship and/or a grant, but that's the extent of any financial aid that I remember. I really wasn't too involved in the process; I gave my parents my summer job earnings and they made up the difference. Something like $1800 per semester for tuition, room and board, maybe.

Forward to 2004. Now on the west coast, California. My wife and I both have full-time jobs totaling around $40,000 a year; not great, but not hurting. One 8 year old kid. I took one evening class this past spring quarter- cost me about $80, the book could have been $100, but I found it online for $10. The eventual goal is to quit my FT job and hit school FT spring of 05, so my counselor said to fill out a FAFSA "just to see what happens". I figured since I'm working, I wouldn't be eligible for anything.

A couple weeks back, I get this check, Pell Grant I think it said, for $225! For a $100 class!? (Well, for me it was a surprise...) I'm thinking either it's an error, or this may not be as difficult as I'd imagined. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth and all...

My questions: Is this kind of kickback normal? What can I expect to get when I leave my FT job and go to school FT? How about when I transfer to a more expensive UC or Cal State school? Will that difference be covered, or will this grant max out and other forms of financial aid kick in?

Much obliged...

[doreen]

It's been a long time since I worked in financial aid , but generally financial aid is based on both the student's ( or parents) income and the cost of attendance at a particular school. The cost of attendance includes not only tuition, but other expenses such as books, transportation and sometimes room and board. It wasn't uncommon for a student's combined state (NY) and Pell grants to exceed the cost of tuition. For a Pell grant, an expected family contribution wil be calculated, and that combined with the cost of attendance determines how much your grant is worth at a particular school. The only real way to find out is to apply and take your report to the other schools. The amount will increase as the cost of attendance goes up, but there is a maximum.