College is expensive, that’s for sure. But how many collegiettes afford higher education is less clear. We asked 16 college women how they’re paying for college and how who’s footing the bill impacts their lives.
“My parents paid for my first two-and-a-half years from a college fund that they had for me, and I also had an unsubsidized loan from my school. Now that the money has run out and I am on my own with loans from the bank and the school.
-Sadie, Christopher Newport University Class of 2017
“I don’t have to worry about paying for college while I’m in school, something my parents insisted upon, although I have minimal loans to pay off once I graduate. And when I say minimal, I’m comparing my $15,000-$20,000 in loans to some of my friends and roommates $40,000-$60,000 loans that they have to pay off. My parents and grandparents saved for my siblings and I to go to college, but still don’t want us to take their generosity for granted — hence the percentage that I will end up paying. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to be able to go to a great private university and for the people who made that happen.”
-Molly, Bentley University Class of 2017
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“I am paying for college (mostly) on my own (my mom helps when she can, but it’s small comparatively; she’s a single parent with my little brother to support). Going to a more expensive liberal arts school and paying your own way (and being a low-income person in general) is difficult. I have missed out on many of the ‘classic’ college experiences because I’ve been at work; often, when I tell people I can’t hang out they tell me that ‘I work too much,’ or that I seem tired. They don’t seem to understand that I have to work that much in order to keep up with expenses that they take for granted; not just tuition, but dental appointments, new shoes, car repairs, transportation costs home, and much more. On the flip side, paying my own tuition has made me invest more in my own college experience and see my classes as a privilege instead of a right. I’m fighting for my right to be here, and that makes me grateful for it. Plus, my jobs have connected me to a group of wonderful people I would not otherwise know, like students from the college next door!”
-Lena, Kenyon College Class of 2018
“I was so blessed that my grandpa had enough savings to pay my way through college. I am so thankful, but I do feel a little guilty when I talk to my friends who are doing work-study or drowning in loans. It’s not much, but I try to buy them dinner and things like that from time to time, because I want to hang out with them without money being an issue.”
-Iris, UCLA Class of 2016
“My parents are paying for college. At first, I didn’t really think much of it; I was a little clueless my freshman year and my parents just took it all on without much explanation. But now, my junior year, I know more details about how much they’re paying and how much of a struggle it can be for them. It’s helped motivate me to work harder, both in school, now knowing how lucky I am to be here, as well as out of school with part time jobs. I used to ask them for money constantly and didn’t think much of it but after looking into it and seeing their struggle, I work part time for my own spare money with some of it going back to them for school bills.”
-Alex, Illinois State Class of 2017
“I have some grant money and some loans. Having student debt to pay off after I graduate stresses me out, but I’m really grateful for the grants I was given.”
-Olivia, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Class of 2016
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“I pay for my college tuition, housing, food, books, etc. completely on my own. I get some scholarship money from the school, but the rest is covered through student loans and money that I earn from my on-campus jobs. Having to pay for college this way is sometimes extremely stressful. My parents are middle-class, and so I don’t get any free money from the government, and in addition to that, a lot of my financial aid is expected to come from my parents. The school will give you a maximum of $20,000 per year in scholarships, grants and loans total. $6,000 of my $20,000 is labeled ‘Expected family contribution,’ meaning that the government says that my parents should be able to contribute $6,000 to my schooling. So essentially, I am only given $12,000 a year for tuition, housing, food and anything else that I might need. $12,000 a year to live is not a lot. My parents are not contributing anything to me due to extenuating financial circumstances, so I have to really budget carefully to make sure that I can live. $6,000 of that $12,000 is my tuition cost, so I need to make $6,000 a year covers my living arrangements, food, car payment, car insurance and everything else. Seem impossible? It pretty much is, which is why I need to work two jobs. I wish that there were better options for students in my situation. Just because the government says that my family is ‘expected’ to pay a certain amount for my schooling doesn’t mean that it’s happening, and I shouldn’t have to be responsible for that.”
-Rachel, University of Florida Class of 2017
“I’m taking out loans for college. Although my mom is a single parent and my father did not pay child support, because my mom has a successful job, I don’t qualify for financial aid. So both my sister and I are taking out loans to pay for our education. College wasn’t something I thought twice about and I know it’ll help me, and that’ll pay them off after I graduate.”
-Jessica, Montclair State University Class of 2017
“In a way my parents are paying. My family is military and my father transferred his GI Bill to me.”
-Andrea, Auburn University Class of 2019
“Freshman year I had a good amount of scholarships, but ever since then it’s been loans on top of loans.”
-Ciarra, North Carolina A&T State University Class of 2018
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“I have no financial support from family. I was raised by my grandparents and their retirement is just enough to keep them going. I work full time (12 hours a day, daily) in the summer and the checks go straight to the college. It’s worth it though; I never take the experience for granted and have a real passion for the journey.”
-Daphne, Gettysburg College Class of 2019
“I was really, really blessed with financial aid so I do not have to pay any of the infamous $45,000 per year that it costs to attend NYU. However, I do have to pay for housing and a meal plan which costs around $15,000 per year. I take out about $5k in federal loans per year and my father has paid the other $10k using a month-by-month payment plan through the university. However, he is a small business owner and can’t always predict his income, so we’ve hit a few snags with getting my payments in on time. In light of that, I’m going to take private loans with the catch that my dad has agreed to pay them off with me after I graduate. Even though I’m a little scared to take out more loans, especially when they aren’t low-interest federal loans, it’s nice to know that I won’t have to pay them off alone.”
-Hannah, NYU Class of 2019
“My parents paid for my college tuition. All of my spending money came from summer jobs through high school and over the summers. My dad incentivized me to always save my babysitting money and after-school job money so that I would have money to do fun things in college. All of my friends not only have their parents paying their tuition, but also provide an allowance. Sometimes I can’t keep up with them and I get aggravated or jealous, but then I try to remember that most people aren’t as lucky as I am to have my expensive school paid for fully.”
-Elizabeth, University of Pennsylvania Class of 2016
“My parents are paying for part of it, and I am paying for the rest. I have already had to take out loans and know that I will be taking out many more. It is very stressful because everything is so expensive.”
-Erica, Gettysburg College Class of 2019
“My parents told me that they would pay $20,000 and that I had to pay for the rest. I got a lot of money from academic scholarships, a music scholarship and I also took out student loans. My parents are stressed about money a lot of the time because I am one of four kids and we are all similar in age, which means lots of college tuition at the same time.”
-Shailagh, Gustavus Adolphus College Class of 2018
“Fortunately, I receive a lot of federal aid and a few scholarships that help take down the price of my education. I still have to pay a large amount for living expenses though, and my grandmother’s saving fund does that for me. I am always working for scholarships so I can save that money and I have three jobs that help pay the smaller expenses, such as sorority dues and utilities. I am thankful I do not have to take out many loans, and that I am not struggling to pay for college, but one of my jobs is at the Financial Aid Office and I see struggling every day. I wish people understood the expenses in depth before choosing a college or program. All too often, I come in contact with a student that still has a bill with no way to pay it and it affects me because I feel helpless in the situation.”
-Brooklynn, Ohio University Class of 2017