Managing Your Money

At Lassen Community College we care and we want to help you plan as you look towards attending.

What will it cost?

The cost of attending a community college will depend on a number of factors. This is general information to assist in your planning.

Fees
California students and students from all other states, except Nevada pay $20 per unit.

Tuition
Students who are NOT California residents will pay $153.00 per unit. Students who are residents of Nevada pay a reduced fee of $42.00 per unit.

A full time student enrolls in 12 or more units per semester.

Housing
On Campus Residence Halls are available. Living on campus includes room and meals. Students may select from 2 meal plans: 9 meals Monday – Friday; or 14 meals including weekends. A maximum cost of $2050 per semester for the 2003/2004.

Off Campus housing is available. Students may contact local apartment complexes for availability. Lassen Residence Hall Staff can provide local information.

Books
New and limited used books are available from the LCC Bookstore. A book schedule will be displayed on campus to determine the required texts per course. A single text can run between $10-$160.

Finnancial Aid Programs

The starting place is the filing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The application is available at the Financial Aid Office and on the web. All resources are looked at to provide the student with the most options. Students interested in Loans will attend a pre loan workshop.

A typical semester Award:

Pell Grant: $2,025
Grants: $150
Work: $2,200
Loans: $1,312

We offer the following types of assistance: Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Family Education Loan Programs, Lassen Work Programs & scholarships, Cal Grant B, C, Board of Governors Waiver, Extended Opportunities Programs & Services, Disabled Student Programs & Services. We DO NOT offer athletic scholarships.

Student Employment

Jobs are available on and off campus. A typical student works a maximum of 20 hours per week.

Is there maximum funding you can receive?
Yes, your maximum funding is the difference between the Financial Aid Cost of Attendance or budget and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the FAFSA. Financial Aid Budgets depend on residency and living arrangements. $8,178-$17,574

Some programs have limited funds. Awarding is based on first-come first- served. It is important to start with filing the FAFSA as soon as possible and be in contact with the Financial Aid Office. Our staff is available to assist you in completing the FAFSA. Accurate completion of the FAFSA is the first step to avoid delays in processing.

Students are encouraged to seek outside scholarships. Websites provide many resources: www.fastweb.com

FAFSA Status or duplicates: www.fafsa.ed.gov or 1 (800) 433-3243

A budget helps you make the best of your financial resources by determining your monthly income and then deciding ahead of time how to spend it. A budget will help you reduce unnecessary expenditures and better anticipate your monetary needs.

Once you enter repayment your initial payment on your student loan should not exceed 10 - 15% of your monthly take-home salary. Whether your monthly payment is below or above the recommended percentage, you should still reduce your debt burden whenever possible. The reality is that starting salaries may fall below expectations and it may be difficult to get exactly the job you want.

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Search the Occupational Outlook Handbook for wage and other information covering nearly 700 job titles.

Consumer Debt
The cost of borrowing on credit cards is high - often 18% or more. Avoid excessive and frequent use of your credit cards to keep monthly payments low. Remember payments made on revolving credit accounts, your borrowing history, and outstanding balances on existing accounts are all included on your credit report. It's important to monitor your credit report to verify your current credit status and to ensure a good future credit rating.

Online Help
EDFUND has developed an online financial planning guide called EDWISE. You can determine a budget, develop strategies to manage finances, and find helpful tips on how to cut expenses. EDWISE also features a built-in Pay As You Go option - you can learn how to save thousands of dollars by repaying your student loans while still in school.