Sample Financing Plans

Here's an overall idea of what kind of financial aid students receive at the CCCs, CSU, UC, and independent colleges and universities:

Academic year: 2005-2006	CSU	UC	Independents	CCC
% of undergraduate students receiving some form of financial aid*	almost 50%	64%	Over 95%	Over 732,000 students received some form of financial aid.
Average financial aid award	$7,520	$13,000	$24,564	Over 732,000 students received some form of financial aid.

*Financial aid comes in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study

As the following sample plans illustrate, financing an education at a CCC, CSU, UC, or an independent college or university requires a partnership involving the university, you, and your parents. More detail about this partnership is available at the bottom of this page.

Sample Financing Plans Chart 1 Each of the sample financing plans in this chart assumes the following: Family Size: 4 # of Students in College: 1 Student: 18 and single (dependent on parents)
Student Information	Sample Financing Plans
Student: Tonya Housing: on-campus Parent Income: $20,000	Tonya's CSU Plan	Tonya's UC Plan	Tonya's Independent Mid-range Plan
	Tonya's CCC Plan		Tonya's Independent High-range Plan
Student: Serena Housing: at home Parent Income: $40,000	Serena's CSU Plan	Serena's UC Plan	Serena's Independent Mid-range Plan
	Serena's CCC Plan		Serena's Independent High-range Plan
Student: José Housing: on-campus Parent Income: $60,000	José's CSU Plan	José's UC Plan	José's Independent Mid-range Plan
	José's CCC Plan		José's Independent High-range Plan
Student: Michael Housing: on-campus Parent Income: $80,000	Michael's CSU Plan	Michael's UC Plan	Michael's Independent Mid-range Plan
	Michael's CCC Plan		Michael's Independent High-range Plan
Student: Sarah Housing: on-campus Parent Income: $100,000	Sarah's CSU Plan	Sarah's UC Plan	Sarah's Independent Mid-range Plan
	Sarah's CCC Plan		Sarah's Independent High-range Plan

Sample Financing Plans Chart 2 Each of the sample financing plans in this chart assumes the following: Family Size: 2 # of Students in College: 1 Student: Married (independent)
Student Information	Sample Financing Plans
Student: Marco Housing: off-campus with wife Student Income: $20,000	Marco's CSU Plan	Marco's UC Plan	Marco's Independent Mid-range Plan
	Marco's CCC Plan		Marco's Independent High-range Plan
Student: Sylvia Housing: off-campus with husband Student Income: $40,000	Sylvia's CSU Plan	Sylvia's UC Plan	Sylvia's Independent Mid-range Plan
	Sylvia's CCC Plan		Sylvia's Independent High-range Plan

Sample Financing Plans Chart 3 Each of the sample financing plans in this chart assumes the following: Family Size: 2 # of Students in College: 1 Student: Single (independent)
Student Information	Sample Financing Plans
Student: André Housing: off-campus with roommate Student Income: $8,000	André's CSU Plan	André's UC Plan	André's Independent Mid-range Plan
	André's CCC Plan		André's Independent High-range Plan
Student: Christina Housing: off-campus with children Student Income: $16,000	Christina's CSU Plan	Christina's UC Plan	Christina's Independent Mid-range Plan
	Christina's CCC Plan		Christina's Independent High-range Plan

More About the Partnership Between the University/College, You, and Your Parents

Your Parents

Parents are expected to contribute based on their financial circumstances as reported on the FAFSA. Parents can meet this expectation by using their current earnings, using their savings, borrowing through federal education loan programs, and taking advantage of deferred payment plans, which spread tuition and fee payments over several months. Some parents will not be asked to contribute, either because they are very low income or because you are independent of them for financial aid purposes. See Whose Parents Are Expected to Help for more information.

You

All CCC students are expected to contribute to the cost of their education by using a combination of their savings and/or earnings from work toward college expenses. Students should work closely with their college to determine the best options regarding attending full or part-time, as well as how many hours to work. Students should also apply for scholarships to help meet their expenses. Students may also contribute by borrowing manageable amounts at colleges participating in the student loan programs.

All CSU students are expected to contribute to the cost of their education by using a portion of any savings or prior year earnings toward meeting college expenses and by contributing college year earnings or borrowing, in the form of student loans, against future earnings.

All UC students are asked to contribute to the cost of their education by working and borrowing manageable amounts.

All independent college/university students are expected to contribute to the cost of their education by using any savings and summer work earnings. Additionally, students can pay for college expenses with college year earnings, private scholarships, and borrowing against future earnings with student loans.

The University/College

The CCCs attempt to ensure that eligible students receive the maximum amount of grant aid and subsidized student employment for which they are eligible; however; students are encouraged to apply early since funds are limited. At some colleges the balance of student need can be met through student loan programs.

CSU attempts to ensure that eligible students receive the maximum amount of grant aid for which they are eligible and that the balance of student need is met, to the extent possible, with subsidized student employment and student loan programs.

UC has two important responsibilities: 1) the university assembles your financial assistance plan, which may include state and federal grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment; and 2) provide enough grant support given your parents' resources to keep the amount you need to borrow or work at a level that enables you to steadily progress toward completing your degree and still meet your repayment obligations after graduation.

Independent colleges and universities are strongly committed to helping students and their families obtain the needed assistance, both monetary and advisory, to make attendance possible and affordable.