Advertisers’ News Comparison Shopping…The College Way O PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE from the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The amount remaining is what we call the “Gap” or “Need”. On average private colleges meet between 70100% of need, while public schools meet between 40-70%. With considerable time spent in research and due diligence, most families can find the average Need Met at the schools they are considering. A higher percentage of Need Met is important, however it is not enough. More research must be done to determine how much of the Need Met is in Gift Aid vs. Self Help. Gift Aid comes in the form of scholarships, grants and work study which never need to be paid back, whereas Self Help is in the form of federal and private loans and personal savings. For instance, if a school says it will meet 70% of Need Met and that 70% is all in loans, your actual out of pocket expense will be 100%! Without researching this important aspect of the college planning process, a family is sure to overpay for the cost of college. ne of the biggest mistakes many parents make is to discourage their student from looking at a private school because of the Cost of Attendance (COA or sticker price). However, the notion that a state public college is more affordable may not always be accurate. When looking at colleges to determine costs, you must first look at the published COA and then subtract your Expected Family Contribution ( EFC) The U.S. Government determines your EFC Are you ready to SELL, BUY or RENT Are you ready to your home? We at Your College Planning Coach are in the business of helping families through the major life transition of sending their children to college. For many, it will be the most expensive time of their lives, and if not handled properly, could cost them their retirement. 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