Some questions about financial aid....?

Question

I'm fairly sure I'll get financial aid, my mom makes less than $15,000 a year, and there are six of us children. I have a part time job, but it's a pretty pathetic amount too. My dad is in prison, and my stepdad (father of all my siblings) took off and sends maybe $50 every two months (of the 57,000 he owes). So I'm thinking I'll get some kind of help.

I also have had a bf for three years, and we're looking to move in together, but we both want to go to school. He's been on his own since he was 16 (he's 21 now) because his stepdad was abusive, and he makes maybe about the same as my mom. He's living with his older brother for now.

If we both apply for financial aid, what are the chances of us getting it, and how much will it cover? If a college has dorms for married couples (or, engaged, another question...do you have to be married for those dorms?) will financial aid cover that, and if not how much does it cost? I'd love to be able to live on campus, I've always wanted to.

We live in Michigan, near Detroit, so if you have any knowledge about nearby schools, that would be awesome. If not, it doesn't matter. We're thinking of leaving state anyway, what with Michigan's AWESOME job market and government and all. Not that the rest of the country is much better, but still.

Anyway, thanks a ton for any input!

Answer 1

Most schools allow students to obtain financial aid up to the cost of their education (COA or Cost of Attendance). This COA almost always includes an allowance for housing -- in most cases, the cost of a dorm room or a reasonable allowance for off-campus housing. Given that you come from a family with 1 parent, 6 dependents, and little income, you should qualify for maximum federal aid. Unless you go to a community college or a low-cost state school, expect your financial aid package to be a combination of grants, loans, and on-campus work; so be prepared to take on moderate student loan debt.

At present, it sounds like you are looking to

Live with BF
Live on-campus
Live on-campus *together*
BOTH obtain a sizeable financial aid package

In order to accomplish these things, you might need to make a few concessions. Sit down together and decide whether it will be possible to get all of these things AND still attend a school that you love that provides educational programs that interest both of you. Apply to several schools and compare financial aid packages. Not all financial aid offices are created equal; some schools might be able to offer you institutional scholarships/grants that other can't. What would happen if School X offered you a lot more money than your boyfriend and School Y offered him more than you? Would you consider going to different schools (and living together off-campus) to save money?

Whenever someone discussed Education Finance and their Significant Other at the same time, I like to remind them that
this is really a time to think of their educational needs. Make sure, when it comes to your education, that you're thinking with your head and not your heart or some other body part...

Answer 2

It sounds like you both definitely qualify for financial aid. However, the amount of aid you'll receive is subjective; it depends on the school. In-state schools (public) tend to be more affordable, and certain states will offer you financial aid simply for going to school in the state you live in. But sometimes private schools will actually offer you more aid (for instance, it costs me less to go to a private college now than it did the public university I went to for a year!) than the public ones, so don't let initial tuition estimates stop you from applying to various places.

You two will have to see what aid packages each school will give you before figuring out how to apply that to housing.

Good luck! :)

Answer 3

Yes both of you get grants However Depend on school go to and house rules if live together. I would think marrage to live to same place not good reason you have lot time to get married after school I the Best time life that come enjoy it

Answer 4

i'm almost positive you'll get a grant, given your mom's income and number of dependents. on your application, put that you plan to live on campus and see if financial aid will pay for that, too. as far as living with your boyfriend, the school has to decide that. some schools don't allow co-ed housing...but see the options for schools in your area. good luck!