2017 SONS FPF - 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) 208
38%
My parents' sources of funding (e.g., loans, wages, income, savings) 433
79%
Contributions from grandparents or other family 74
14%
Other
[contact OPA for more information
16
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 49 66 10 30 13 18 1 1 6
46% 7% 21% 9% 12% 1% 1% 4%
My savings and income 52 42 60 21 13 2 2 1 3
29% 42% 15% 9% 1% 1% 1% 2%
Grants or scholarships that I do not repay 33 28 28 21 16 12 10 14 41
17% 17% 12% 9% 7% 6% 8% 24%

- 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 201 140 4 6 7 6 2 3 14
77% 2% 3% 4% 3% 1% 2% 8%
Savings and income 194 12 9 16 19 6 11 13 140
5% 4% 7% 8% 3% 5% 6% 62%

- 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 32 25 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
89% 7% 0% 4% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Savings and income 33 2 11 2 1 6 3 0 12
5% 30% 5% 3% 16% 8% 0% 32%

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 289 58%
1-5 hours 29 6%
6-10 hours 38 8%
11-15 hours 39 8%
16-25 hours 49 10%
26-35 hours 27 5%
More than 35 29 6%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
I do not plan to work this semester 346 70%
1-5 hours 23 5%
6-10 hours 58 12%
11-15 hours 38 8%
16-25 hours 16 3%
26-35 hours 6 1%
More than 35 10 2%

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 212 170 15 24 31 16 6 3 11
62% 5% 9% 11% 6% 2% 1% 4%
Your parents 230 192 9 9 8 3 7 4 15
78% 4% 4% 3% 1% 3% 2% 6%
Your grandparents or other family 152 291 1 4 2 0 2 0 3
96% 0% 1% 1% 0% 1% 0% 1%

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

ResponseNumberPercent
$100 to $199 139 36%
$200 to $299 128 33%
$300 to $399 69 18%
$400 to $499 25 6%
$500 to $599 18 5%
$600 to $699 6 2%
$700 to $799 2 1%
$800 to $899 2 1%
$900 to $999 0 0%
$1,000 or more 2 1%
Don't know 109

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 91 45%
No, I did not accept subsidized loans that I was offered 111 55%
I do not know if I have accepted a subsidized loan 66
Not Applicable; I was not offered subsidized loans 231

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 324 67%
Yes (please explain)
[Contact OPA for more information]
159 33%

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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