Before Tiffany Thomas, 23, set foot on campus for her first semester at SF State, her financial aid ordeal made her rethink attending college here.

Thomas, a political science major, was not able to get any grants for tuition or expenses and the loan she was offered would not cover her costs for even one semester.

Although she has been on her own since age 18, Thomas had to include her mother’s income when applying for financial aid, which made her ineligible to receive all the money she needed.

Forty-nine percent of SF State students receive some form of financial aid, but students who need aid because their parents cannot help them financially do not qualify sometimes because their parents make too much money.

Every student under 24 is required to use one or both parents’ income on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA; the financial aid application that determines the amount and type of aid each student qualifies for.

There are seven exemptions for underage applicants, such as being married or having a child, but for the majority of students these do not apply.

The amount of money each student receives in aid is partly based on the parent contribution estimate - the congressional determination of how much money a parent is able to give for their child’s education, according to Barbara Hubler, the director of the financial aid office.

Only when a parent’s resources fall short will aid be givaaen, she said.

“It is the family’s responsibility to help their children,” said Hubler.

There are different avenues to take when students cannot qualify for grants and student loans, such as parent loans and alternative loans that are not need-based, Hubler said. However, loans that are not need-based are always unsubsidized, so the student is responsible for the interest payments during school unless they can get the payments deferred.

Alternative loans are offered by for-profit banks and lending institutions, not the government. These loans can have lower interest rates than government loans, but not everyone can qualify for them.

Even with outside money sources, including help from parents, students who cannot qualify for grants and government loans have a hard time stretching their dollars.

Thomas did not have to use her father’s income when applying for financial aid, but her mother still made too much money, about $40,000 per year, she said.
“FAFSA [calculations] expected her to give me $4,000 a semester. It was outrageous,” said Thomas.

Her mother, who owns a day care, was denied a parent loan too, leaving Thomas no choice but to take out another, unsubsidized loan.

“I definitely couldn’t get [aid] because of my mom,” said Thomas.

Her mother has three other children, a mortgage and bills of her own. Although her mother sends money every month, it is not enough to live on without working extra hours and cutting her expenses wherever possible, Thomas said.

Other students who need financial aid choose to omit some information to guarantee they qualify.

History major Christine Graham, 21, moved out on her own after high school.

Graham’s combination of a Federal Pell Grant, Cal Grant, student loans and part-time job keeps her pretty well covered financially, she said.

But to receive financial aid, Graham could not include her father on the FAFSA.

His income was high enough for her to be disqualified for grant money, but too low to help her financially, she said.

Graham said her mother, who has no income, is also in school. Her two younger siblings, who now live with her father only, might have trouble getting financial aid if they decide to go to college, she said.

The formula for determining financial need based on parent income is not likely to change anytime soon, said Hubler.

“The country [is] not in the financial state to contribute,” said Hubler.

She said the emphasis on parent contributions will not go away. Affected students will either have to continue seeking out alternative loan sources or find other ways to afford school - a stressful alternative.

“I’m overextended,” said Thomas, who turns 24 in June and will no longer have to include her mother’s income when applying for financial aid. “Hopefully I won’t have to take out [more] loans and repay them,” she said.