For many seniors, getting into a school isn’t the hardest part in their college admission process — figuring out how to pay for it is. Acceptance letters often overshadow the reality for many students of having to estimate debt, comparing financial aid options and evaluating the long-term costs of a degree.

“Paying for college is maddening,” College and Career Center (CCC) counselor Laura Duran said. “It’s wild that you don’t actually know how much you are responsible for paying until later.”

Theo Santos

Senior Theo Santos didn’t expect to make as many phone calls or emails as he did to universities to appeal and discuss financial aid packages. 

“My parents can only contribute so much if I don’t get enough in the aid package,” Theo said. “There’s that added aspect of ‘I got in, but then can I pay for it?’”

Due to the high cost of out-of-state tuition, Theo mainly applied to in-state public schools and private universities that he thought would give appropriate aid. Even then, the tuition was heavy — UC tuition was about $15,000, with total costs reaching about $50,000. 

So, Theo had to rely on scholarships and external aid. But, he said the timeline of hearing back from scholarship results didn’t line up with those for college decisions.

“You don’t actually hear back from many scholarships until late April,” Theo said. “You really don’t have the full picture about what your financial situation will be for the next four years.”

Since Theo plans to also attend medical school, he said he sought to minimize the debt from his undergraduate degree — even if that meant turning down one of his top options. Though he was admitted into the University of Rochester in New York, which boasts a 70% medical school acceptance rate compared to 40% in most California schools, the annual cost of $50,000 after aid made attending out of reach.

“I would have really wanted to go to Rochester,” Theo said. “But the financial aid just wasn’t there.”

So, he opted to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, where the financial aid he received reduced annual costs to $13,000. 

“Before hearing back from all the scholarships, I was like ‘Oh, how the hell am I going to pay for this?’” Theo said.

Luca Ferrari

Senior Luca Ferrari’s financial decision unfolded in euros, not dollars. Knowing he wanted to study in Europe — where the cost of attendance and scholarships operate entirely different than American schools — his process of affording college was different from the start.

An Irish citizen, Luca was able to receive EU tuition rates at the University of Amsterdam, significantly lowering his cost of attendance. He said it’s about €5,000, which includes tuition, housing, food plans and other resources.

If he didn’t have Irish citizenship, however, the cost of attendance would look much different. Students without EU citizenship typically pay around €15,000 to €20,000 per year. While cheaper than most American universities, the difference in cost for EU citizens was the deciding factor for Luca.

Similar financial opportunities that don’t focus on citizenship are also offered to students to help reduce costs. Various government-funded scholarships also provide aid, sponsored by institutions and governments.

Looking back, Luca said that students interested in studying abroad, especially in Europe, should consider affordability early and explore all available financial aid options.

“Don’t let the cost deter you,” Luca said. “It’s worth looking at to expand your worldview.”

Itzel Villa Garcia

Senior Itzel Villa Garcia always knew that the cost of attendance would heavily influence her college decision. Prestige wasn’t a significant factor for her — she just wanted the traditional four-year college experience.

Applying to college, Itzel mostly looked into in-state public schools. As a prospective nursing student, she was specifically enticed by CSU’s programs.

After seeing her older sister attend UC Merced with most of her expenses covered, Itzel’s standards around affordability were raised. She decided not to take out loans for her education, and knew she’d choose a college that wouldn’t place a burden on her family.

However, knowing that she’d want the majority of costs covered to attend any school, no amount of aid she received was enough. For example, she turned down Chico State University despite it being one of her top choices. 

“The grand total of cost was around $30,000,” Itzel said. “That left me with the remaining $20,000, which prevented me from choosing it.”

Instead, Itzel committed to De Anza College — the most financially sound decision for her. She urges students to make their college decisions based on the best fit rather than prestige.

“If financial aid is an issue, choose community college,” Itzel said. “Even though some people view it as a bad thing, sometimes it’s the best financial choice.”

Nora Saraci-Alonso

For senior Nora Saraci-Alonso, scholarships are like entering a raffle. She said she spent hours applying for no-essay scholarships, which required just basic personal information for a chance at being selected.

She also applied for essay scholarships, which provide aid based on the quality of the student’s essay, and completed the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), which allows students to apply for federal, state or college-sponsored financial aid.

“I remember I spent basically a whole day just applying and applying,” Nora said. 

Yet when it came down to deciding where she would spend the next four years, the scholarships she received didn’t drive her decision — it was the in-state tuition she received as a California resident. So, she chose the University of California, Los Angeles.

“I was considering a few other schools that were similar in academic caliber to UCLA,” Nora said. “Ultimately, UCLA was just cheaper than the other options.”

While she feels a strong connection to UCLA and is drawn to its academic programs, she acknowledges that the cost of college played a significant role in her decision. 

“It’s really unfortunate that people have to make choices based on cost, and not just the academic caliber of and the opportunities offered by the institutions they get into,” Nora said.