2017 SONS Freshman - Part 4: Affordability

Affordability

Your expenses may vary from the official estimate, but Berkeley estimates the total cost for California residents living in University housing at about $34,400 for the academic year. How are you paying for your current academic year expenses (e.g., registration fees, housing, meals, transportation, books)? Please check all that apply.

Selected
My personal sources of funding (e.g. loans, wages, income, savings, grants & scholarships) 1215
43%
My parents' sources of funding (e.g., loans, wages, income, savings) 2189
78%
Contributions from grandparents or other family 415
15%
Other
[Contact OPA for more information]
84
3%

How are you paying for your current academic year expenses?

- My personal sources of funding (e.g. loans, income, savings, grants & scholarships)

 An amount that I don't know$0 (Zero)$1 to $1,999$2,000 to $4,999$5,000 to $9,999$10,000 to $14,999$15,000 to $19,999$20,000 to $24,999$25,000 or more
Loans to me that I must repay 239 523 30 129 138 26 13 17 40
- 57% 3% 14% 15% 3% 1% 2% 4%
My savings and income 251 272 357 153 74 16 8 10 22
- 30% 39% 17% 8% 2% 1% 1% 2%
Grants or scholarships that I do not repay 200 119 166 168 116 112 71 91 200
0 11% 16% 16% 11% 11% 7% 9% 19%

- Parents' sources of funding (e.g. loans, income, savings)

 An amount that I don't know$0 (Zero)$1 to $1,999$2,000 to $4,999$5,000 to $9,999$10,000 to $14,999$15,000 to $19,999$20,000 to $24,999$25,000 or more
Loans from various sources 835 835 28 43 47 32 33 18 95
- 74% 3% 4% 4% 3% 3% 2% 8%
Savings and income 818 55 95 87 75 87 59 60 771
- 4% 7% 7% 6% 7% 5% 5% 60%

- Grandparents' or other family members' personal sources of funding (e.g. loans, income, savings)

 An amount that I don't know$0 (Zero)$1 to $1,999$2,000 to $4,999$5,000 to $9,999$10,000 to $14,999$15,000 to $19,999$20,000 to $24,999$25,000 or more
Loans from various sources 158 194 4 6 1 3 0 1 1
- 92% 2% 3% 1% 1% 0% 1% 1%
Savings and income 174 13 64 38 27 26 7 6 42
- 6% 29% 17% 12% 12% 3% 3% 19%

If you worked for pay this past summer, how many hours per week did you usually work?

ResponseNumberPercent
I did not work any hours this summer 1460 57%
1-5 hours 155 6%
6-10 hours 198 8%
11-15 hours 182 7%
16-25 hours 231 9%
26-35 hours 135 5%
More than 35 206 8%

About how many hours per week are you expecting to work (paid employment) this semester?

ResponseNumberPercent
I do not plan to work this semester 1814 71%
1-5 hours 159 6%
6-10 hours 307 12%
11-15 hours 197 8%
16-25 hours 51 2%
26-35 hours 18 1%
More than 35 17 1%

By the time you graduate from UC Berkeley, what is the estimated total amount of loans that you, your parents, and other family will have to repay?

 An amount that I don't knowNoneLess than $5,000$5,000 to 14,999$15,000 to 29,999$30,000 to 49,999$50,000 to 74,999$75,000 to $99,999$100,000 or more
You 1007 958 74 116 157 68 49 28 51
64% 5% 8% 11% 5% 3% 2% 3%
Your parents 1091 1052 58 44 48 38 30 26 78
77% 4% 3% 4% 3% 2% 2% 6%
Your grandparents or other family 737 1601 16 7 7 8 4 3 7
97% 1% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% 0%

How much do you plan to spend on books for this term?

ResponseNumberPercent
Don't know 541
$100 to $199 825 41%
$200 to $299 605 30%
$300 to $399 303 15%
$400 to $499 107 5%
$500 to $599 86 4%
$600 to $699 37 2%
$700 to $799 13 1%
$800 to $899 13 1%
$900 to $999 7 0%
$1,000 or more 15 1%

If you were offered subsidized loans through the Financial Aid office, did you accept them?

ResponseNumberPercent
Yes, I accepted subsidized loans that I was offered 440 41%
No, I did not accept subsidized loans that I was offered 629 59%
I do not know if I have accepted a subsidized loan 297
Not Applicable; I was not offered subsidized loans 1178

Please share with us why you did not accept the subsidized loans.

[Contact OPA for more information]

As you start this term, has there been an expense that greatly exceeded your anticipated budget amount?

ResponseNumberPercent
No 1808 72%
Yes (please explain)
Contact OPA for more information
707 28%

Before finishing, the unstructured questions on this page provide an opportunity for you to record experiences not already covered and/or expand on earlier responses.

What has gone surprisingly well, much better than expected?

[Contact OPA for more information]

What has not gone well? What has caused you problems, anxiety or disappointment?

[Contact OPA for more information]

Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about your experiences as a new Berkeley student?

[Contact OPA for more information]

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