Ryan the Temp said:

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CDUB98 said:

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*Haven't read thread, so apologies if it has been covered.

What about someone who is on their own, legally?

My parents dumped me as a dependent the year I turned 18. This allowed my piddly McD's income to be my only source. Does the school still request potential parental assets/income as a factor, or could a student on their own from a taxing standpoint get "free" tuition?

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The student would have to be declared independent. For someone in this scenario, they can become provisionally independent, but the university financial aid office would have to assist the student in completing their FAFSA.

https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency

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Interesting.

So, it seems it may be theoretically possible.

CrackerJackAg said:

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Send like people don't understand how this works. This is just a bridge program. Funded mostly by private scholarships and endowments.

AFTER Pell Grants, AFTER all federal and state grants, AFTER any and all forms of assistance public or private THEN endowments and private money closes the gap.

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Right, it's about how A&M chooses to use the general scholarship fund and other money. They are putting almost all of it into this means tested program instead of lowering tuition for everyone or increasing merit scholarships. A&M even pulled the scholarship they were offering for National Merit Rural Scholars recently and now only do it for NM Semifinalists and Finalists (love to know how that fits our mission). Up until recently Rural Scholars got $4k per year but programs like this one absorb the merit cash. I know as it is one of the reasons my son (who was a Rural Scholar and had we had planned on that money) chose to go OOS for a better scholarship.

TANSTAAFL

So if my wife and I divorce, our son can get free college? What the hell

BusterAg said:

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1981 Monte Carlo said:

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Ghost of Andrew Eaton said:

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Muy said:

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People who get things for free tend to expect things for free and are the first to cause problems because they don't appreciate what they were given.

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Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. I know a number of people who grew up on government assistance as children and now own their own businesses. These people understand that they don't want to be poor and found a way to change the family tree. Of course, that is anecdotal, and you did say they tend to but there are times when it works.

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Take two rich kids...one of them has a dad who teaches him personal responsibility and makes him work for any type of reward, teaching him "if you want something, you've got to earn it through hard work and save up". The other just completely spoils and bankrolls his child through life...a never ending safety net.

Which son is more likely to be a deadbeat and possibly a complete degenerate? It's a tale as old as time...our welfare is the way it is by design. It's downright sinister. And now democrats are hooking unvetted third world migrants on the government teet as soon as they step foot on our soil. They do not want people to advance.

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So, if you are at the top 7% of your class, and you come from a disadvantaged background, I am cool with giving you a shot at being successful in college. The very best thing about America is our economic mobility.

If you get into A&M, you are not a lowlife freeloader. Even if you get in under the 7% rule, you are still at the tops of your class when it comes to academic achievement.

Is someone at a Bridgeland high school that is in the top 8% of their class better equipped than someone that is in the top 7% of their class in their ghetto high school in Houston's 3rd ward? Most likely yes, 99% of the time.

This would be different if the acceptance rate at A&M was easy, but, it's not. Yes, this is a wealth transfer from the middle class to the lower class. But, it is a wealth transfer from average achieving middle class to high achieving lower class, which is at least better than a racially motivated wealth transfer.

Eliminating this policy would hurt poor white kids the most. If you have great grades and no DEI boxes to check, and your parents can't pay for your college, it's going to be tough sledding for you. If you are a poor black kid with great grades, you are going to get a ton of scholarships from private donors, and you will be OK.

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Sorry but this is incorrect. While some scholarships are racial or sex based there is a TON of money out there that is means tested without considering race or sex. Straight up merit money though is very hard to get if your parents make more than $100k.

This is also flawed because it assumes that your parents income is the standard. Plenty of parents don't have anything saved for their kids schooling or won't contribute to it even if they make $200k plus. Those kids only option is likely loans. There are kids whose parents don't make much but have saved money as well or have businesses or grandparents that can fund college but they benefit from these programs. The worst case is the lower income kid who somehow didn't get any of the MANY scholarships and financial aid programs based on income has to take out loans similar to the middle class kid. In the end there is no reason why a middle class kid should have big loans while a lower income kid should not if they are both going to the same school for the same degree with the same qualifications and that is exactly what this system does.

This is misguided good intentions and spending other people's money to do it.

BusterAg said:

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aggie93 said:

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one safe place said:

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aggie93 said:

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The Collective said:

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Well, it covers assets too. Going to get sunk by those 529 balances. Guess I won't get divorced.

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One of the things I resented the most was filling out my FAFSA for my son and seeing that my 529 I invested in to save for their college was being used against me. That's how the system works, it penalizes the responsible.

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If the 529 account was for your son, isn't the purpose of it to pay for his college?

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Of course but the point is that a 529 is treated as a negative as far as FAFSA is concerned. If you chose to save money instead of buying a new car or something then you are less likely to get aid. The person that spent their money on other things then gets the aid. Made me feel like a sucker. Then of course spending all the time filling out the FAFSA which is a requirement even if you know you won't qualify for need based aid was salt in the wound. You are penalized at every turn for being responsible. BTW, most schools don't require you to fill out a FAFSA if you just are applying for merit aid. My youngest is on a full ride OOS and we didn't have to do one for him.

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This why I advise everyone that I talk to about personal finance that a 529 should only be used when all of your other tax shelters are maxed out. Retirement accounts are not included as assets for FASFA.

Put your money in a ROTH IRA, which doesn't count for FASFA, and then pay for tuition for your child out of your ROTH, which you can do with no penalties.

If you have a 529 now, and you haven't maxed out your ROTH savings, start now in converting your 529 savings into a ROTH. You might still have time to do it for 2025. If you are maxed out for ROTHs for you and your spouse, open a ROTH for your kids, and max those out, before you go to a 529.

529s are so, so inefficient, and should be avoided unless you know exactly what you are doing. Max out IRAs first.

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Sure but a lot of folks (like me) did a 529 when our kids were little because we weren't looking at every loophole. Essentially it is all about who can best game the system.

techno-ag said:

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Decay said:

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This is stupid and shouldn't exist.

We need more merit based assistance.

I don't care who benefits more or utilizes it etc etc. this isn't a damn free lunch program. It's an education. If you want one you should earn it or pay for it. They already have plenty of scholarships that exclude people based on race, finances, gender, you name it.

This is just more budgetary shenanigans to squeeze the taxpayers harder and get more public money into a University swimming with cash and DEI make-work jobs like the Liberal Arts department.

Who voted for this?

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I'm okay with it if we bring back legacy admission points.

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I agree here. 1,000%.

Agzonfire said:

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So if my wife and I divorce, our son can get free college? What the hell

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Many ways to game the system and almost none of them involve positive behavior. If your parents went to A&M you also get penalized because there is no legacy bump nor is there a first gen bump.

double b said:

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A&M billing has two tuition charges. One rate is set by the state of Texas, and the other is what Texas A&M charges. EVERY student is paying into this, and this money is set aside for "Scholarships."

• State-rate Tuition: 20% of your bill is set aside to award grants and scholarships
• TAMU-rate Tuition: 15% of your bill is set aside to award grants and scholarships

So technically, every student is funding this, and this new policy primarily benefits first-generation students. The thing is, TAMU has no desire to increase its merit-based funding because it has so many families willing to pay the full freight of the costs and do not care about retaining top-end talent in Texas.

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This!

Comanche said:

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Honest question: What are these multi-billion dollar endowments used for??

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They say for research. I'd have no problem if the federal government forced the schools to use their endowments to pay off all the student loans the schools accepted. Then take the rest just for fun and give it to veterans or something. Maybe use it to fund our inquisition of Canada.

Once these schools aren't near as rich as they should be, maybe they'll decide to slash their frivolous departments/degrees.

JB!98 said:

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BusterAg said:

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JB!98 said:

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BusterAg said:

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JB!98 said:

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Damn, I guess I will drop the bomb on my wife that we are getting a divorce. Stinks, because I am kind of fond of the old gal, but free tuition is free tuition! I wonder if that would work?

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Just do what any good Dem would do:

1) Find a foreign Chinese student of the opposite gender of your child.
2) Get your Chinese student to agree to pay for a 2 bedroom apartment for your child until they both graduate where they will live together as roommates.
3) Get your child to marry the Chinese student, which will give the Chinese person residency.
4) Your child can divorce after they graduate.


Now, the Chinese student gets to stay in the US, the only income that is relevant to FASFA for your child is the income of your child and their spouse, and your child gets a free place to live while they are in college.

Everybody in your family wins, and the United States loses.

If you look at this and say: "that's really unfair to all the taxpaying citizens in the US," you probably shouldn't do what I posted above, because you are not a Democrat, and may have trouble sleeping. Or, if you do identify as a Democrat, and you think that this might impact your conscious, you are just living in denial of your true self. I recommend WWII documentaries to cure that.

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I think your sarcasm meter may need some adjustment.

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Right back at ya!

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My son starts in the fall and will be on scholarships and my tab. Easier if you plan for it! He will proudly be a member of Outlaw 8!

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Do corp members still get a lot of scholarship money? I know that was a thing in the early aughts.

If I was to make a donation to A&M to pay scholarships, it would be to something directed at Corp members only.

[Time to take a long break. -Staff]

Quote:

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Maybe it's okay to help poor families. Maybe it's okay to be okay with it.

I think most Aggies are fine with this policy.

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There was no 'soft racism' until you brought it into the discussion. Your comment reminds me of when Biden said, "poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids"


Of course, help poor families. That's great and admirable. No one is stopping you. But we're discussing a University-wide policy, that affects all students.

But helping poor families, at the expense of successful families is going to see pushback. And I'd argue 100k is absolutely NOT 'poor'...but it creates more 'feels' to call them that I guess.

We should reward merit, not punish success. And I don't think 'most' Aggies are ok with the opposite.

Captain Pablo said:

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And who pays for this?

Middle class families paying full tuition? Tuition that will be raised to cover costs?

It's the America way, of course

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There's no such thing as free tuition. It just means families that earn more than $100,000 pay double for their kid.

BusterAg said:

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JB!98 said:

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BusterAg said:

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JB!98 said:

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BusterAg said:

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JB!98 said:

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Damn, I guess I will drop the bomb on my wife that we are getting a divorce. Stinks, because I am kind of fond of the old gal, but free tuition is free tuition! I wonder if that would work?

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Just do what any good Dem would do:

1) Find a foreign Chinese student of the opposite gender of your child.
2) Get your Chinese student to agree to pay for a 2 bedroom apartment for your child until they both graduate where they will live together as roommates.
3) Get your child to marry the Chinese student, which will give the Chinese person residency.
4) Your child can divorce after they graduate.


Now, the Chinese student gets to stay in the US, the only income that is relevant to FASFA for your child is the income of your child and their spouse, and your child gets a free place to live while they are in college.

Everybody in your family wins, and the United States loses.

If you look at this and say: "that's really unfair to all the taxpaying citizens in the US," you probably shouldn't do what I posted above, because you are not a Democrat, and may have trouble sleeping. Or, if you do identify as a Democrat, and you think that this might impact your conscious, you are just living in denial of your true self. I recommend WWII documentaries to cure that.

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I think your sarcasm meter may need some adjustment.

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Right back at ya!

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My son starts in the fall and will be on scholarships and my tab. Easier if you plan for it! He will proudly be a member of Outlaw 8!

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Do corp members still get a lot of scholarship money? I know that was a thing in the early aughts.

If I was to make a donation to A&M to pay scholarships, it would be to something directed at Corp members only.

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They get a basic scholarship that can increase over time. I think my son's starts at $500 per semester but can increase. He has a few other scholarship's that he has been awarded. He is going to sign a contract either his Soph or Jr year, so we will see what Uncle Sugar has to help cover costs. We are also looking at the TASSP scholarship that would be great to take advantage of.

HoustonAggie11 said:

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Pantera said:

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Tuition is only a portion of cost of attendance. Happy to help

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you realize tuition encompass room and board right? hth

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it does not. let me know if you have more questions.



https://tuition.tamu.edu/undergraduate

Affordability for me, but not for thee.

aggie assurance program has been around for almost 20 years. used to be 60k i assume they've just been incrementally increasing it.

bubblesthechimp said:

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aggie assurance program has been around for almost 20 years. used to be 60k i assume they've just been incrementally increasing it.

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this is true. Here's how it reads on TAMU's website as of today.

"Undergraduate students classified as Texas residents whose family income and assets are less than $60,000 qualify for Aggie Assurance. Tuition support grant amounts may be offered to undergraduate students whose family income is greater than $60,000 but no more than $130,000. Tuition support grants range from $500-$1,500 based on income and financial need."

It's been a thing since 2008, and before that there were other programs that did the same, and there will continue to be programs like this. All this *****ing for no reason lol

slaughtr said:

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Captain Pablo said:

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And who pays for this?

Middle class families paying full tuition? Tuition that will be raised to cover costs?

It's the America way, of course

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There's no such thing as free tuition. It just means families that earn more than $100,000 pay double for their kid.

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This assumes that the amount that the University charges and the amount that they need to run a University are at all related.

They are not.

They will charge every dime that they can. The Texas Assurance Program is nothing more than a price discrimination policy to get more people in the door. Without it, you wouldn't pay less for your kids Tuition, there would just be fewer kids at Texas A&M.

BusterAg said:

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slaughtr said:

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Captain Pablo said:

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And who pays for this?

Middle class families paying full tuition? Tuition that will be raised to cover costs?

It's the America way, of course

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There's no such thing as free tuition. It just means families that earn more than $100,000 pay double for their kid.

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This assumes that the amount that the University charges and the amount that they need to run a University are at all related.

They are not.

They will charge every dime that they can. The Texas Assurance Program is nothing more than a price discrimination policy to get more people in the door. Without it, you wouldn't pay less for your kids Tuition, there would just be fewer kids at Texas A&M.

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Actually this isn't true either. You would have the same amount of kids at A&M but they might look different. Putting some of that money towards merit scholarships would get stronger students to attend and would reduce the number of low income students. It would also decrease the amount of kids who come from auto admit from bad High Schools and reducing auto admits (who may not apply or won't attend) and those spots will go to other kids.

My son's HS is one of the highest ranked in Texas. Last year in his class they had 63 kids in the Top 10% and only 7 chose A&M in spite of being auto admits. Many chose Texas but many others went elsewhere either because they got in higher ranked schools or they got great scholarships (like my son). For perspective there were 5 kids OUTSIDE the Top 10% that got into Ivy League schools. If A&M was offering quality scholarship money to those kids and recruiting them they would have at least doubled if not tripled the number of kids they got. A&M still got a ton of kids who were admitted anyway outside the Top 10% and others that were Blinn Team or System Admits but to get so few of the Top 10% from a highly ranked Texas HS sucks but my son is one of them, love A&M but not turning down a full ride at a similarly ranked school.

BusterAg said:

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JB!98 said:

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BusterAg said:

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JB!98 said:

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BusterAg said:

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JB!98 said:

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Damn, I guess I will drop the bomb on my wife that we are getting a divorce. Stinks, because I am kind of fond of the old gal, but free tuition is free tuition! I wonder if that would work?

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Just do what any good Dem would do:

1) Find a foreign Chinese student of the opposite gender of your child.
2) Get your Chinese student to agree to pay for a 2 bedroom apartment for your child until they both graduate where they will live together as roommates.
3) Get your child to marry the Chinese student, which will give the Chinese person residency.
4) Your child can divorce after they graduate.


Now, the Chinese student gets to stay in the US, the only income that is relevant to FASFA for your child is the income of your child and their spouse, and your child gets a free place to live while they are in college.

Everybody in your family wins, and the United States loses.

If you look at this and say: "that's really unfair to all the taxpaying citizens in the US," you probably shouldn't do what I posted above, because you are not a Democrat, and may have trouble sleeping. Or, if you do identify as a Democrat, and you think that this might impact your conscious, you are just living in denial of your true self. I recommend WWII documentaries to cure that.

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I think your sarcasm meter may need some adjustment.

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Right back at ya!

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My son starts in the fall and will be on scholarships and my tab. Easier if you plan for it! He will proudly be a member of Outlaw 8!

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Do corp members still get a lot of scholarship money? I know that was a thing in the early aughts.

If I was to make a donation to A&M to pay scholarships, it would be to something directed at Corp members only.

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Almost everyone in the Corps gets at least a small scholarship and it goes up to $4k per year. If they are on ROTC scholarship they are fully funded and the school picks up the portion not covered by the government.

Corps is one area that has a lot of scholarship money fortunately.

BusterAg said:

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slaughtr said:

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Captain Pablo said:

---

And who pays for this?

Middle class families paying full tuition? Tuition that will be raised to cover costs?

It's the America way, of course

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There's no such thing as free tuition. It just means families that earn more than $100,000 pay double for their kid.

---

This assumes that the amount that the University charges and the amount that they need to run a University are at all related.

They are not.

They will charge every dime that they can. The Texas Assurance Program is nothing more than a price discrimination policy to get more people in the door. Without it, you wouldn't pay less for your kids Tuition, there would just be fewer kids at Texas A&M.

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Believe me, I'm the guy always paying more.

AlexNguyen said:

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Sigh. I am a wage slave. My son will not qualify because I "make too much".

+1 to what the OP wrote. All I know is that I am middle class and I am tired of funding everything.

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Well, buckle up, cowboy. The party has just started.

Pantera said:

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HoustonAggie11 said:

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Pantera said:

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Tuition is only a portion of cost of attendance. Happy to help

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you realize tuition encompass room and board right? hth

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it does not. let me know if you have more questions.



https://tuition.tamu.edu/undergraduate

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Damn! I had to go see the post to which you were replying to make sure that poster had no Ag Tag. I'm glad he does not.