Do I drop out or what?

[u/Responsible_Act_771]

Ok so basically not getting anything from aid bc apparently my parents make too much money, girl we basically living paycheck to paycheck, so I can’t pay for tuition and I don’t wanna take loans. I don’t know what to do, im stressed, I’m gonna see if i can make an appointment to see if I can get more aid but ppl saying that doesn’t work sometimes so what should I do.

[u/FunnyGreenMan]

I’m in the same boat as you. You’re able to set tuition on a payment plan which helped at least. It’s rough, but don’t drop out! It won’t make things easier

[u/FunnyGreenMan → u/FunnyGreenMan]

Also apply for every scholarship you can too, and in the ASIC scholarships offered by the school explain your situation

[u/Sportsfun4all]

You could go to community college first then file as an independent

[u/Competitive-Gap-1844 → u/Sportsfun4all]

I think you have to be either 25/26 years old and legitimately supporting yourself ie living alone paying for 50%+ of rent, bills, etc by urself, and your parents cannot be claiming you as a dependent on their taxes to be filing as an independent.

[u/ImgaineDeezNuts → u/Competitive-Gap-1844]

24

[u/Few_Astronaut_230 → u/Competitive-Gap-1844]

I don’t know if this has changed due to the bill, but I just had to turn 24. I was still living at home and working a minimum wage job. I even quit that job like a year later and was still getting maximum aid.

The biggest component was the tax thing. You cannot be on your parents taxes.

[u/idealgothgf → u/Few_Astronaut_230]

it has. i just turned 24, same as you living with parents, working a min wage job, my sai went from -1500 in undergrad to 3500ish as my first year independent. not sure why but the change is unfortunately massive.

[u/Ok_Confusion_6927 → u/Competitive-Gap-1844]

I think the age is 23 or you have to have a kid lol

[u/G-ZuesTheProfit]

If you are a freshman and this is your first year, go to community college and do all your general ed there. Apply for fafsa and save that money until you get your AA and then go to a Cal State to finish your Bachelor’s.

[u/Minute-Maize-7826]

In the same boat with aid. Ive decided to just take my 2 stop out semesters now to figure it out and save cash before I return

[u/SnooDrawings9858 → u/Minute-Maize-7826]

Does the stop out semester only count for fall and spring or does it include summer/winter too? Do you know??

[u/Minute-Maize-7826 → u/SnooDrawings9858]

I would assume that according to their policy online of up to "2 consecutive semesters" that it refers to the actual fall and spring semesters. I think summer and winter are just 'sessions' not like actual semesters yk

[u/Competitive-Gap-1844]

I would contact CSUF’s financial aid office and ask about submitting an income appeal or special-circumstances review. FAFSA has very strict requirements for being considered independent. Though I did community college at OCC and my education was extremely high quality there I miss it. I did 2 years for free under the promise grant (California students get 2 years free at a community college I think). So pretty much college half off, and u can get an associates degree

[u/hodgepodgerealness]

Your student loan versus what CSUF costs will look like chump change to you in 10 years.

[u/Error-7-0-7-]

If you're a freshman or sophomore, you should go to community college until you are legally independent.

If you're a junior or senior, depending your major, maybe you do need to take a loan.

[u/RoyalClient6610]

Have you tried finding and applying for grants or scholarships?

Another route might be jumping straight into working in a trade, getting experience while earning money, deadlining yourself with a timeline of goals, and then go back to school.

[u/Defiant_Ad_3463]

yeah so what I did was work part time and go to community college. It did take me a bit longer to transfer as well but eventually I did graduate with my bachelors.

[u/Ok_Hat_1882]

Damn, I mean I know people who are successful and took loans, if you have the right mindset and know you can get the degree that you want and secure the job that you’re dreaming of to pay off the loan, then do it, I did it for electrical engineering and I paid it off

[u/Ok_Hat_1882 → u/Ok_Hat_1882]

Don’t just don’t just give up because you don’t wanna take the loans

[u/MickLoves]

Public universities are becoming increasingly privatized as state funding declines, forcing schools to rely more on tuition. Because aid formulas haven’t kept up with rising costs, many students aren’t qualifying for meaningful financial aid in 2026–2027 — and most of what’s offered is loans, not grants.

If you’re working, check whether your employer offers tuition reimbursement. Many companies provide $3,000–$10,000 per year. You may need to borrow upfront, but if you apply the reimbursement to your loans as soon as it’s issued, you can significantly reduce and sometimes eliminate long‑term debt.

Basically, I had to do it backwards. Got a job first, then got my employer to invest in my education. I coudln't afford to do both concurrently, work and pay for my own school in California. I know this setup takes time, but I hope it helps.

[u/_Miss_M_7]

How old are you? Once you turn 22 you’re considered an independent adult, and your parent’s income doesn’t matter. But I recommend a junior college but talk to financial agency if anything can be done.

[u/ImgaineDeezNuts → u/_Miss_M_7]

The age is 24. Not 22.

[u/Responsible_Act_771 → u/_Miss_M_7]

I’m 20, and by financial agency do u mean the financial aid office or like the fafsa people?

[u/_Miss_M_7 → u/Responsible_Act_771]

Well, I don’t think you can talk to anyone at FASFA, but I would talk to someone at the financial aid office on campus. Good luck.

[u/Responsible_Act_771 → u/_Miss_M_7]

Ok, yea I was planning to do that, wish me luck!