Big surprise NYS free college tuition is not free

[Saltwater60]

My wife and I out together make just too much to get the “free college” for my kids so after hearing my nephew only got $1,200 in assistance I said before we do anything let’s figure this out. I’m not 100% sure on the exact dollar but the maximum you can get is about $3250 per semester from NYS but they take any other money you get off that. So say UB offers you $2000 in scholarship then NYS will only give you $1250 per semester and UB is about $7500 per semester now. So how is this free college by any means?
My son is straight honor roll so I’m not doing shit because he will get scholarship I’m sure. My other son has learning disabilities and I’m sure there is some money out there for him if needed.
I just can’t stand the lies.

 

[Bustedknees]

I'm well below the 120k income and my son didn't get the "free" ride either..
I read somewhere that over 75% of those who apply are denied.. Just another bullshit propaganda for the Coumo regime.

 

[PDR_AR15]

The tuition is “free”. The room and board is not. Room and board is typically just as much if not more then tuition. So if you live in Buffalo and your kid stays at home then UB would be “free”.

 

[Blimey]

I'm happy to hear this.

I am also over the threshold. I pay a shit load of taxes already. I also sacrifice massively to put money into a 529, which is something most people don't seem to do (in many cases because they don't care enough, and they could if they made other decisions).

This law was nothing but another transfer of wealth, and I know one family that deliberately (at least when this plan first came out) cut their hours back at work to get under the threshold.

I suppose if the threshold was extremely low I may have a different view of it, but IMO if you're $120k family income you should not be getting free tuition.

 

[Catskillkid]

Met a high school kids last year who basically said the same thing. Definitely not "free" and its funding of last resort. He got some minor scholarships and they cut back his assistance. In short, it's another feel-good scam with a happy sounding name like everything Cuomo puts out.

 

[MothMan]

ain't nothing free song - Bing video

 

[Saltwater60]

The tuition is “free”. The room and board is not. Room and board is typically just as much if not more then tuition. So if you live in Buffalo and your kid stays at home then UB would be “free”.

No it’s not. That’s exactly what I’m saying. Look at the web site for it. If you get all of it the cost reimbursement would only cover 1/2 of UB’s tuition. I’m well aware that room and board and don’t forget other fees that you have to pay are not covered.
NYS Higher Education Services Corporation - The Excelsior Scholarship

UB tuition seems to be adjusted down for the excelsior program to help reduce the cost. However this is per semester and the tuition reimbursement seems to be a year from what I read.
Spring - Student Accounts - University at Buffalo
Look at the fees is nearly 50% of your tuition. That’s insane.

 

[Saltwater60]

The tuition is “free”. The room and board is not. Room and board is typically just as much if not more then tuition. So if you live in Buffalo and your kid stays at home then UB would be “free”.

I know of no one who received a free ride anywhere. I looked into it because I’ve been asking multiple people. Most I have heard about some one getting was 2,000 a semester for UB. If you’re hearing differently I’d like to know. Again I know room and board and fees aren’t covered but everyone I spoke to has had to pay out of pocket expenses for tuition. MY BIL son got $1,200. I’ll bet the make $80,000 a year.

I can’t find the calculator I used right now. I’ll look a bit later to show what I was referencing.it basically supported what I said above though. Most you can get is $6300-$6400 per year so per semester it’s $3200 and if you get a $2000 scholarship you get $1200. Only thing different is UB adjusts and makes people eligible for this program pay a little less for regular school. However if you look at the fees not covered by this program they are $3,300. That’s insane. So fees are 50% of tuition? Sounds like a way to say hey we’re giving free college oh wait we will screw you out of this money another way. Good ole NYS.

 

[Celt]

I'm well below the 120k income and my son didn't get the "free" ride either..
I read somewhere that over 75% of those who apply are denied.. Just another bullshit propaganda for the Coumo regime.

Id be very curious to see the demographics of who gets approved and denied.

 

[Saltwater60]

Report: Nearly 70% of students who applied for New York’s free college program were rejected

 

[tony]

Everything is free if you are an " illegal ".

But you knew that...

 

[Exonautic]

It's not free at all. You get money, after the max federal loan you're allowed to take out

 

[tony]

FUAC said it was free...

 

[GOPerfect]

I am of the belief that all should pay their own way.

We do not have that type of system here, damn shame!

Free for all or free for none! Dollar for dollar, all handouts should be equal!

 

[Bustedknees]

Neither side of gov't want to talk about the interest rates for student loans.. my credit score is above 800 and they still wanted 9% interest with me cosigned on the loan.

 

[GOPerfect]

Neither side of gov't want to talk about the interest rates for student loans.. my credit score is above 800 and they still wanted 9% interest with me cosigned on the loan.

They do not want to discuss the crazy costs of college either.

The more aid that is given, the more schools raise their rates.

Hum, go figure!

 

[Blimey]

It's not free at all. You get money, after the max federal loan you're allowed to take out

Are you fking serious?

This "free tuition" is only AFTER "aid"--which, as we all know now, is rarely in the form of grants (i.e. free cash), but generally in the form of nothing other than government-approved loans?

Are you sure that if you're approved for fed loans for the tuition then you're expected to cover it that way instead of with the "free tuition"? If so, lmao, what a farce.

Neither side of gov't want to talk about the interest rates for student loans.. my credit score is above 800 and they still wanted 9% interest with me cosigned on the loan.

That's really high. I thought rates were more like 6-7% generally, but I know a lot of people will refinance into a different kind of loan afterward to lower the rate.

 

[Saltwater60]

Are you fking serious?

This "free tuition" is only AFTER "aid"--which, as we all know now, is rarely in the form of grants (i.e. free cash), but generally in the form of nothing other than government-approved loans?

Are you sure that if you're approved for fed loans for the tuition then you're expected to cover it that way instead of with the "free tuition"? If so, lmao, what a farce.
That's really high. I thought rates were more like 6-7% generally, but I know a lot of people will refinance into a different kind of loan afterward to lower the rate.

That’s not what my research shows. They do deduct anything given to you off the NYS. Say you get a tap, Pell grant, and $2000 scholarship all those come off. Yet you’re still stuck paying the fees and BS added to fund this.

 

[BDinPutnam]

And presumably it covers straight "tuition", not books, "activity fees", "student association fees", and the 8,000 other non-tuition and non-room and board expenses involved.

So basically just a straight up transfer of wealth from Joe Taxpayer to the universities whether you send a student or not.

Shocker.

 

[1075tech]

Ha! When this first came out, we were like, we should qualify for that. Nope $103 too much that year. Daughter's tuition at New Paltz went up something like $800 that year too. Basically had to raise the rates to cover the free rides. It's all good though. 5th year student now. Taking her master's in their accelerated program. Made the dean's list throughout her first 2 years there. Graduated last year with honors.

She'll have minimal student loan debt when she's done. She's smart and a hard worker. She's held one of her jobs since she was 14.

 

[BDinPutnam]

"Had to raise the rates to cover the free rides."

Please explain this one to me.

Why would the university need to raise its rates if it is being paid the same amount as it was previously, albeit by another payor. That would sound very much zero sum to me.

 

[Saltwater60]

"Had to raise the rates to cover the free rides."

Please explain this one to me.

Why would the university need to raise its rates if it is being paid the same amount as it was previously, albeit by another payor. That would sound very much zero sum to me.

They all raised rates at historic levels right after this passed. They are all stage run so I see his point.

 

[BDinPutnam]

They all raised rates at historic levels right after this passed. They are all stage run so I see his point.

I've been up since 0500, give it to me like I was a five year old.

"This service costs $500 if you pay me for it directly."

"Now someone else pays me for the same exact service - for another user of the same service - so across the board it costs $750, because apparently that is what I can charge for it."

 

[Kwalsh]

My daughter got “free” tuition for her final 2 years at SUNY Oswego , now we paid her rent and food off campus and it has saved her a lot in loans , she does have some loans at ridiculous rates for her first 2 years but nothing that crazy

By the way the wife and I are considered upper middle class because we just fell under the threshold

 

[Acer-m14]

you have to check the box that your kid is a illegal alien these days for FREE LOL..

 

[Saltwater60]

My daughter got “free” tuition for her final 2 years at SUNY Oswego , now we paid her rent and food off campus and it has saved her a lot in loans , she does have some loans at ridiculous rates for her first 2 years but nothing that crazy

By the way the wife and I are considered upper middle class because we just fell under the threshold

If you don’t mind my asking how much did the state give you to achieve this free college though? Also seems like the fees have just been raised like crazy since I went. I remember paying a few hundred in fees.

 

[Blimey]

"Had to raise the rates to cover the free rides."

Please explain this one to me.

Why would the university need to raise its rates if it is being paid the same amount as it was previously, albeit by another payor. That would sound very much zero sum to me.

I can't speak to his post but in my opinion when you have a finite supply of something and you increase the demand--which in theory making college more accessible to some, via free tuition, would do--you will see an increase in price to reach equilibrium. As such if you're over the $120k threshold not only are you seeing your tax money go toward this, but you'll also pay further for your own kids because of an overall tuition increase.

I also really have a problem paying any of my own money to lazy kids getting shit degrees in gender studies which are worth absolutely nothing to the student, nor society.

 

[Exonautic]

Are you fking serious?

This "free tuition" is only AFTER "aid"--which, as we all know now, is rarely in the form of grants (i.e. free cash), but generally in the form of nothing other than government-approved loans?

Are you sure that if you're approved for fed loans for the tuition then you're expected to cover it that way instead of with the "free tuition"? If so, lmao, what a farce.
That's really high. I thought rates were more like 6-7% generally, but I know a lot of people will refinance into a different kind of loan afterward to lower the rate.

I'm sure, after my parents got divorced I qualified for it because it only counted one of their incomes ( but not mine and I'm happy about that). Yeah I got a whopping 200 a semester.

 

[BDinPutnam]

@Blimey you are so anti-science it makes me sick.

How does gender studies contribute nothing to society? There are SO MANY OF THEM now the phenomena bears study...



Seriously though, thanks for the explainer. Wasnt firing on all cylinders.

 

[Saltwater60]

I'm sure, after my parents got divorced I qualified for it because it only counted one of their incomes ( but not mine and I'm happy about that). Yeah I got a whopping 200 a semester.

Are you sure you’re not supposed to count your income? I thought I read it was household income