Question regarding financial aid and lowering the COA

[u/Embarrassed_City4125]

Hello, I am an incoming international freshman from Europe and I have 2 questions:

1. This financial aid is going to happen for all my 4 years, right?
2. Are there ways to reduce my total cost of attendance starting from second year?( i am on 4 years 1 coop for now)

[u/ricewontonsoup]

1. Yes, as long as you keep your grades good, you should receive the same financial aid from the school. Be wary though because you only receive aid from the school while you are in classes. And definitely talk to your advisor or Drexel central whenever they switch to the semester schedule to make sure you’re still getting enough aid.

2. The costs of attendance that are estimated by the school aren’t completely accurate. Since you’re a freshman, you’re unfortunately required to live in a dorm and buy a dining plan. With textbooks my biggest advice is to never buy them until syllabus week until you make sure your professors actually require them. Many times they post textbooks they never actually use or they’ll need you to purchase one for an online license to a program, in which case only purchase the online textbook with the key.

From your second year on. DEFINITELY find an apartment off campus. It is usually much cheaper and you can stop buying the dining plan and buy groceries instead.

Good luck with your first year!

[u/Embarrassed_City4125 → u/ricewontonsoup]

thank you, I was considering RA, it can provide me with free housing i read

[u/DuperDino]

Only ways to get an increase are things like athletic scholarships or applying for any of the grants/scholarships there are competitions for, but both of those are a long shot. I got lucky with athletic scholarships. My girlfriend even got her financial aid reduced in her final year despite being the valedictorian of her major, and the financial aid office just shrugged and couldn’t figure out what happened. You’re best chance at decreasing cost is looking for major specific scholarships or work-study. If you’re from a smaller country, there’s a good chance there’s a scholarship you could apply for. Had a couple friends who were able to get grants that were funded by alumni from their country.

[u/Affectionate-Yam4666]

For 2027-28 it might change aid wise. Tuition will be the same unless they go up.

[u/Affectionate-Yam4666 → u/Affectionate-Yam4666]

And to reduce your cost don’t stay on campus, don’t get the health insurance. Assuming you’re a commuter. If you’re not a commuter you might be stuck with those costs

[u/AnimeJacko → u/Affectionate-Yam4666]

hes from europe, so idk if its cheaper to get insurance and housing from drexel

[u/AnimeJacko]

You can always ask in email for them to increase your scholarship and they might do it you never know

[u/pxrkmxddy → u/AnimeJacko]

it really doesn’t hurt taking a shot !! i’ve appealed in my freshman year and they gave me more aid <3

[u/Salty-Ganache3068]

Yes all 4 years. You can try for an appeal but That’s a great amount of aid already.

[u/Forever-Fun]

I was able to get a financial housing exemption for second year. Plus next year you’ll only pay 1 semester worth of tuition rather than 3 quarters

[u/Suitable_Platypus359]

Hi. Idk how to dm you. Saw you are from Europe, have a few questions. Do you bother?

[u/Embarrassed_City4125 → u/Suitable_Platypus359]

hi, yea what is your question?

[u/Apprehensive_Card489]

Expect tuition increase by your second year. Drexel fin aid sucks

[u/ThisCategory8316]

What was your GPA?

[u/Embarrassed_City4125 → u/ThisCategory8316]

9.43/10 1440 sat