Which is cheaper: A private college or a out of state college?

Question

I have decided to major in pharmacy and because I live in southern Georgia my choices are limited. Only a few schools in my state offer pharmacy programs and 1 of them is the University of GA (which is really difficult to get into so I don't want to go there). Mercer University is another option. They are private and therefore expensive. However I have a renewable $10,000 a year scholarship with them but the average complete cost per year even with the scholarship will be $22,000. Another option is to go out of state to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). Of course I will have to pay out of state fees but won't after a certain amount of time can I maintain residency? FAMU will cost about $27,000 a year until I maintain residency. So all in all, which is the most cost efficient choice. Both schools have good pharmacy schools so money is the major object at hand here. I know finaicial aid will help but the balance portion will be my responsibility.

Answer 1

Contact the residency official at FAMU to determine when you can officially become a resident for tuition purposes. It varies from state to state, and some state colleges offer "friendly neighbor" discounts to students from nearby states.

You can save lots of money by taking your general education courses at a community college. If you work with the transfer counselor at the community college, you can take the courses you'll need as pre-requisites to get into the upper division Pharmacy program. It will take some effort on your part, but if money is a concern, this can be a good option.

If you have to pay out of state tuition at FAMU you are probably better served at the private college with the scholarship. Private schools have more scholarship money to give, and you might be able to land a larger scholarship as you gain more credits at your school. Talk to your college financial aid office and get their perspective. It's a big decision, and you want expert advice.

Good luck!

Answer 2

My husband is a pharmacist and he was in his last year of Pharmacy School at UGA when we got married. He did not go to UGA for all of his schooling.

He started at Gainesville College in Gainesville, Georgia (which is a really good school, by the way). Gainesville was also realativly inexpensive - and he was able to use the HOPE scholarship among other things. He completed 2 years at Gainesville - without accumulating any kind of student loans - and decided to go to UGA. When applying to UGA, he had done so well at Gainesville, he was offered a scholarship. He was further able to finish using his HOPE scholarship, as well as the GI Bill. He was able to finish school with only one loan that ended up being about $5000.

So, my advice to you is to consider going to a community or 2 year college prior to entering a larger school. The grades that you get in the 2 year schools can help you in obtaining scholarships, grants, or financial aid at larger schools. I don't know where in Georgia you are exactly, but Gainesville is a good school, as is Clayton College and State University in Clayton County, Georgia (Jonesboro/Morrow/Forest Park area).

Here is the link to the HOPE scholarship website:
http://www.gsfc.org/GSFC/grants/dsp_menu.cfm

You can find out all information about HOPE there, as well as search Georgia schools.

Best of luck with your endeavors - it will be a long, hard road, but trust me, it will so be worth it in the end.

Answer 3

I know *exactly* how you feel...

I don't know completely either, but my best guess is that out of state until you establish residency will be your best bet. At a private school there is no *establishing residency* And 22K will be a constant for four years (88K total) as opposed to 27K for one year and then 10K for each year after that (assuming you establish residency) (57K total)

Out of State FTW!

Answer 4

In some states, it is very hard to establish residency.
Anyway, the FAMU pharmacy program has just been placed on probabtion, so I wouldn't call it a good program. It they don't improve, they'll loose their accreditation.

Answer 5

whether in-state colleges fee below inner maximum schools relies upon on whether or no longer you get economic help from the indoors maximum schools, and if so, how lots. you will no longer understand the appropriate info till you prepare. inner maximum schools do no longer continually provide scholars money. on occasion public universities provide stunning scholarships.