Whoa wait! Are you going to a CSU or a UC?

If your family makes under $80,000- you qualify for the UC Blue and Gold opportunity plan and your entire 'tuition and fees' costs are waived.

If your family makes below $150,000- you qualify for the Middle Class Scholarship:

40 percent of systemwide tuition and fees for students whose family income is up to $100,000, and

between 10 percent and 40 percent of systemwide tuition and fees for student whose family income is up to $150,000 per year (based on a sliding scale).

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-EDIT-

Just did some more google-fu and that is avenger2142 is right! The UC website has super vague description about qualifications:

UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan will ensure that you will not have to pay UC’s systemwide tuition and fees out of your own pocket if you are a California resident whose total family income is less than $80,000 a year and you qualify for financial aid — and that's just for starters.

So if your family has a significant amount of assets like a house, it will definitely reduce the amount of financial aid you have.

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This is a good time to plug in something about voting for higher education.

Yes, the system seems incredibly rigged because there simply isn't enough funding support for higher education like there has been in the past(which was why UCs are increasing enrollment from out of state/international students- because they bring in a lot of money with out of state tuition).

UC Berkeley funding example: chart - Only 20% of funding is from the state.

But there is something you can do about it- if you want to better your community, you can make a difference through civic engagement(and not only just voting in the big presidential elections too)

An interesting tidbit of info: chart- Prison funding in California gets the same amount of state funding as higher education(~10%).

Voting rate by age: graph

38% of 18-24 year old votes, declining trend

49.5% 25-44, declining trend

63% 45-64, declining trend

69.7% 65 and over, increasing trend

Population by age in California:

Under 18- 24% of population

18-24- 10% of population

25-44- 26.6% of population

45-64- 26% of population

65+ - 13% of population

Voting demographic source: https://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/p20-573.pdf

Age distribution: http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf

Another tangent thought- We should also look into how much the administrative glut is increasing the cost of higher education.

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Alternatives for cheaper education:

Going to a community college first to get your general edu classes(intro classes, basic math/english) out of the way and save over $20,000 in tuition and fees(and save at least $15,000 more if you live at home and go to a local CC). Then when you go out to your 4 year uni, you only have to pay for 2 years or tuition and housing before you graduate. To compare:

$46 per unit at a Community College

$248 per unit at a California State Uni

$271 per unit at a UC

$1,666 per unit at private school ( This rate is from USC- University of Southern California)

• remember, your first two years of required GE classes will take about 60-70 units

Community college info:

Don't buy into the stigma and stereotype that CCs give you a shoddy education. I've had amazing professors in the wide range of subjects available at my CC- those who are actually passionate about teaching, profs who can actually know how to teach, smaller classes: better learning environment: making connections with prof is easier for rec letters, and profs with amazing edu backgrounds and/or work experience.

If you are lower income, you can get a BOGFeeWaiver to cover your entire tuition cost. There are also programs like Calworks(moms), Guardian Scholars(foster/homeless), EOP(low income), Second Chance(previously incarcarated), and other resources that can help you with loans, grants, scholarships, food/book/transportation vouchers, ect.

In California, you can do a transfer agreement to get into a UC. For CSU, just keep your gpa reasonably ok and finish your pre-reqs. Use assist.org for more info. Honestly if you make an effort to do well at a CC, most schools are within your reach.

It's also good to mention that if you plan to go to grad school, it doesn't matter much where you go for undergrad- as long as it isn't a school like DeVry or some for-profit BS school. You can go to a state school, do well, complete required courses for your grad program, participate in some research, do some work in something in your related field, get to know your profs for rec letters, and you'll be good. Might as well save yourself some money if you are planning to go into something like med school.

Also wanted to mention that I understand the stigma/feeling of 'missing out' by not going into a 4 year first.

Yes, some people will give you the look; and yes, you will miss out on those first 2 years of social stuff from stuff like dorming and ect. As much as I'd love to say something idealistic like 'experiences are priceless', my family just can't afford it. If I knew I can save my parents at least $20,000 by going to CC, I couldn't justify going over $40,000 in debt- especially since that money can go somewhere else. Additionally, it is relieving to be graduating without a heavy burden of debt to worry about(especially with this job market)