What a $300,000 College Might Cost a $200,000 Family (Published 2020) (2023)

FAQs

What a $300 000 college might cost a $200 000 family? ›

All that data entry can pay off, because lots of people can qualify for financial aid that is based solely on need. In fact, over a four-year span, families with annual household income of $200,000 can get a third or more of the cost knocked off an education with a $300,000 list price.

Students selected for verification of their FAFSA form may wonder, “Does FAFSA check your bank accounts?” FAFSA does not directly view the student's or parent's bank accounts.

Between 2000 and 2021, average tuition and fees have jumped by 69%, from $8,082 to $13,677 per year. In just the 10 years between 2010 and 2020, tuition and fees rose by 20%, from $11,397 to $13,677.

Even if you reside in a high cost of living area like Manhattan, $200k a year would put you in the top 25% of households according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yes, that's the top 25% among some of the highest earning households in the world.

The good news is that the Department of Education doesn't have an official income cutoff to qualify for federal financial aid. So, even if you think your parents' income is too high, it's still worth applying (plus, it's free to apply).

A higher EFC means that your family has more substantial income and assets, and therefore can afford to pay more for college. On the other hand, a lower EFC represents that your family cannot afford to pay as much, and therefore you have a greater need for financial aid.

The financial aid staff starts by deciding upon your cost of attendance (COA) at that school. They then consider your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). They subtract your EFC from your COA to determine the amount of your financial need and therefore how much need-based aid you can get.

The student's EFC is determined by adding the student and spouse's contribution from available income to their contribution from assets and then dividing the sum by the number in college.

Parents as well as students must report the net worth of their assets when applying for federal student aid.

Should I empty my savings account for FAFSA? ›

Empty Your Accounts

If you have college cash stashed in a checking or savings account in your name, get it out—immediately. For every dollar stored in an account held in a student's name (excluding 529 accounts), the government will subtract 50 cents from your financial aid package.

There is no set income limit for eligibility to qualify for financial aid through. You'll need to fill out the FAFSA every year to see what you qualify for at your college. It's important to make sure you fill out the FAFSA as quickly as possible once it opens on October 1st for the following school year.

And yet, by 1970, college access was disrupted by double-digit inflation and a struggling economy. Tuition and fees rose alongside the inflation rate, making college — once again — unaffordable for many students.

There are three main reasons for this: growing demand, a shortage of in-state funding and outsized investment in student services.

Cost Of College Over Time: The Past 40 Years

In 1980, the price to attend a four-year college full-time was $10,231 annually—including tuition, fees, room and board, and adjusted for inflation—according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By 2019-20, the total price increased to $28,775.

$300,000 Feels Like A Middle-Class Income

Psychologically, earning $300,000 feels OK because it puts the household in the top 10% of household income earners. But making $300,000 feels like a middle-class income due to how little cash flow is left. A household needs to earn $470,000+ to be in the top 1% in 2022-2023.

According to the most recent data available for fiscal year 2019, an income of $540,009 per year puts you in the top 1% category. Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich.

So while it's comforting to know that it's possible to live on $30,000 a year, it's also a good idea to aim higher and save more when you're young, because you can't know for certain what the future will cost and you may want some flexibility.

Other reasons for financial aid disqualification include: Not maintaining satisfactory progress at your college or degree program. Not filling out the FAFSA each year you are enrolled in school. Defaulting on a student loan.

There are favorable non-need-based loans that students from even the wealthiest families will qualify for, so if you want your child to take on some of the responsibility for financing his or her own education, or if you want to consider federal borrowing options yourself, you will need to complete a FAFSA to access ...

Should you complete FAFSA if wealthy? ›

Rich parents or not—fill out the FAFSA

It's a legitimate question and the answer is yes, you should complete the FAFSA even if you think your parents make too much money for financial aid. You might be surprised that you are eligible for aid you didn't think you'd qualify for.

A high EFC is likely the result of high income or a high value of assets as reported on the FAFSA. Assets considered include bank account balances, capital gains and, sometimes, equity held in businesses and real estate.

If you believe that a college has calculated your EFC incorrectly, contact the financial aid office. Financial aid administrators can explain how they determined your EFC and discuss your options. Your EFC may be lowered if your family has had a significant change in income or expenses since you applied.

If your EFC is greater than the cost of attendance, there's a very slim chance you will receive any financial aid. The only option for you, then, would be to take out a federal direct loan or PLUS loan in the event that you needed assistance in paying for school.

Use of the expected family contribution

Generally speaking, the lower the EFC, the higher the financial aid award will be. Zero is the lowest EFC number (indicating that the family cannot afford to pay anything) and 999,999 is the highest.

The FAFSA formula doesn't expect students or families to use all of their adjusted available income to pay for college. The formula allocates 50 percent of a dependent student's adjusted available income to cover college expenses and anywhere from 22 to 47 percent of parents' available income.

First, in general, parents are expected to contribute up to 47% of their net income to the cost of college every year. Before you freak out, stop!

An Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $50,000 means that the family is expected to contribute $50,000 toward the student's education expenses for the academic year.

Once you have earned a baccalaureate degree or your first professional degree or have used up all 12 terms of your eligibility, you are no longer eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant. Learn more about staying eligible for federal student aid while you're in school.

2: The EFC for the average American household with an AGI of $50,000 will usually range from $3,000 to $4,000. There is no cap on EFCs so some very wealthy families will have EFCs that exceed the cost of an expensive private university.

What assets don't count on FAFSA? ›

Cars, computers, furniture, books, boats, appliances, clothing, and other personal property are not reported as assets on the FAFSA. Home maintenance expenses are also not reported as assets on the FAFSA, since the net worth of the family's principal place of residence is not reported as an asset.

The FAFSA will specifically ask “As of today what is the cash balance of checking, savings…” accounts for the student. Because the question is phrased “As of today” it leaves room for interpretation. If all money was pulled from checking and savings the day before the FAFSA was filed, the answer is zero.

Do Parents' Assets Affect Financial Aid? Both parent and student-owned assets can have an impact on financial aid eligibility. However, generally-speaking, parent assets have a more limited impact because parents are expected to contribute a smaller proportion of their wealth to pay for their child's college education.

Non-reportable assets

Qualified retirement plans , including 401(k), Roth 401(k), 403(b), IRA, Roth IRA, SEP, SIMPLE, Keogh, profit sharing and pension plans. Qualified annuities are also not counted on the FAFSA.

FAFSA looks back 2 years to determine what your income will be for the upcoming school year.

Income and assets are the some of the primary metrics on which the FAFSA measures your financial need. If your family has a high relative income, you may receive less financial aid than a family with a relatively low income, because the FAFSA will determine that you have a higher expected family contribution (EFC).

Assets you SHOULD include on the FAFSA

These are counted as assets that you need to include on your FAFSA: Money in checking accounts, cash and savings accounts. Real estate. While FAFSA does not consider your parent's primary residence as an asset, you need to declare the net worth of any additional property.

To be eligible for federal student aid and college financial aid, a student must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). This generally consists of maintaining at least a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (i.e., at least a C average) and passing enough classes with progress toward a degree.

However tempting it might be to use that extra money to buy a brand new $1,800 laptop or textbooks or anything else, if you can cover those expenses out of pocket then that is what you should do. Only accept enough financial aid to cover the 25% of tuition not covered by your parents' savings and your scholarship.

What is the average student debt after college? ›

University graduates owe an average of $33,500 a year after they leave school. The average private nonprofit university student borrows $33,700 to complete a bachelor's degree. For-profit students borrow $49,700.

Free College Would Eliminate Debt Burden

One of the central reasons as to why should college tuition be free is that not all students and families can afford college. It is widely accepted that while college is increasingly necessary, it is also increasingly unaffordable.

Both college tuition and student loan debt are now higher than they've ever been. In the past 10 years, from 2008 to 2018, tuition fees have increased by a shocking 36%. And while inflation of course still exists, in the same time period, the median income increased by a mere 2.1%. So why is college so expensive?

Bachelor's degree holders generally earn 75% more than those with just a high school diploma, according to “The College Payoff,” a report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce — and the higher the level of educational attainment, the larger the payoff.

In fact, the average net tuition and fees paid by in-state students at public four-year colleges is on track to be at the lowest point in 16 years, when adjusted for inflation, according to the report. For 2021-2022, it's estimated to be $2,640 this year, down from an inflation-adjusted high of $3,720 in 2012-13.

Yes, college classes are typically harder than high school classes because the course work, topics, and depth of materials are more complex, set at a faster pace, and require more studying.

College students commonly experience stress because of increased responsibilities, a lack of good time management, changes in eating and sleeping habits, and not taking enough breaks for self-care. Transitioning to college can be a source of stress for most first-year students.

The average cost of attendance for a student living on campus at a public 4-year in-state institution is $25,707 per year or $102,828 over 4 years. Out-of-state students pay $44,014 per year or $176,056 over 4 years. Private, nonprofit university students pay $54,501 per year or $218,004 over 4 years.

The average total cost during the 2021–22 school year for a public four-year university for in-state students staying on campus was $27,330 a year and $44,150 for out-of-state students, according to the College Board. A year at a four-year private college cost an average of $55,800 for all expenses.

How much should a family save for college? ›

Ideally, you should save at least $250 per month if you anticipate your child attending an in-state college (four years, public), $450 per month for an out-of-state public four-year college, and $550 per month for a private non-profit four-year college, from birth to college enrollment.

During the 2021/2022 school year, the average parent covered about 43% of their student's college costs using income and savings. Parents covered an additional 8% of that cost by taking out loans, according to the Sallie Mae study. The average total parent contribution came out to $13,000 per year.

California. It's only until the child reaches 18 years of age that parents should provide support. However, it can continue until the age of 19 if the child is a full-time high school student and not self-sufficient.

California's robust student aid program, coupled with federal and institutional grants, ensures that the majority of California public college students do not pay tuition.

Higher income students are more likely to pay full price. As this table shows, college students are about twice as likely to pay full price at a public four-year college as they are at a private, non-profit four-year college (28 percent and 13 percent of freshmen, respectively).

Data Summary. The average college tuition and fees at four-year schools in 2020-2021 was $19,020. The average total cost for a year of college at a four-year school — including tuition and fees, on-campus room and board, books, supplies, and other expenses — was $35,551.

A college education is widely perceived as unaffordable for most Americans, with 77% of U.S. adults saying a college degree would be difficult for someone like them to afford. 82% of women said a college degree would be difficult to afford, compared with 73% of men.

Parental financial support can send a message about the importance of education and inspire a student to work harder. In addition, these experts suggest that paying for a child's education is an investment in a child's future — giving them a shot at better career options.

A good rule of thumb is to save 1/3 of projected college costs, and cover the remaining 2/3 with current income, financial aid, scholarships and student loans. The more you save, the less your child will have to borrow to pay for college.

What is a reasonable monthly budget for a college student? As you can see from the above, college students spend approximately $2,000 per academic year on additional expenses beyond tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. That amount may cover clothing, laundry, toiletries, entertainment, etc.

What to do if your parents are rich but won t pay for college? ›

Most Students have $51-$500 in their Bank Accounts

399 student responses over 82 schools. The majority of students (23% of respondents) reported having $51-$500 in their bank accounts. This is a very low amount and can definitely be concerning.