Real-Life Examples

Achiever Annie graduated from Renaissance High School in Franklin, Tennessee. She worked hard during her high school career to maintain a 4.0 and graduated as valedictorian of her class. Annie is the oldest of four siblings and has two parents at home who both work. Annie’s parents make $65,000 and have $5,000 in savings. Annie focused on school full-time and never had a job, but she has $500 in savings.

Total cost for academic year: $25,374
Total aid: $21,595

Cost to student after aid: $3,779

Henry graduated from Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tennessee. He is the second of four siblings and both he and his oldest brother will be in college at the same time. Henry maintained a 3.4 GPA at Ravenwood and scored a 23 on his ACT while working a part-time job. His parents’ total income is $120,000. His parents have $7,500 in savings. Henry made $7,500 at his job, but did not save any of the money he made.

Total cost for academic year: $25,374
Total aid: $12,250

Cost to student after aid: $13,124

Caleb graduated from Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is saving money by commuting from his house which is a 35-minute drive to campus. Caleb maintained a 3.0 GPA and scored a 20 on his ACT while working a part-time job to help support his family. His dad passed away when he was a freshman in high school so his mom’s income of $55,000 is the total family income. His mom only has $1,000 in her savings account. Caleb does not have any money in savings.

Total cost for academic year: $18,290
Total aid: $10,000

Cost to student after aid: $8,290

Isaac is a very involved student. He is a member of Future Business Leaders of America, Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, Future Farmers of America, and National Honor Society, and he plays the trombone for South Laurel High School in London, Kentucky. He has always had good grades, maintaining a 3.8 GPA and scoring 26 on his ACT. His parents’ combined income is $65,000 with $7,500 in savings. He will be the third of five siblings to go to college and will be the third sibling in college at the same time. He didn’t have time in high school for a job nor does he have any savings. He applied early to Johnson and submitted his scholarship application for the minority scholarship and he heard back yesterday that he received the scholarship!

Total cost for academic year: $25,374
Total aid: $17,095

Cost to student after aid: $8,279

Oliver graduated from Phoenix High School in Dalton, Georgia. Oliver maintained a 3.9 GPA and scored a 27 on his ACT. He is the second of his three siblings to go to college, but he will be the only sibling in college when he attends. His parents are divorced and he lives with his mom, who never remarried. His mom’s income of $35,000 is the total family income. His mom has $1,000 in her savings account. Oliver worked a part-time job to help support the family, making $5,000, but he does not have any savings.

Total cost for academic year: $25,374
Total aid: $19,345

Cost to student after aid: $6,029

Faye recently married her spouse whom she met at their part-time staff training. Just a few years ago, Faye graduated from Crescent City High School in Crescent City, Florida. She maintained a 3.0 and scored a 20 on her ACT. Faye has felt a calling to become an elementary school teacher, but with a combined income of $15,000, she and her spouse are unsure if they can afford for her to go to college. After researching schools and hearing how sought out Johnson University Florida’s education majors are, she decided to complete her FAFSA and apply after attending a Preview Day.

Total cost for academic year: $26,210
Total aid: $26,650

Cost to student after aid: ($440)

Malachi graduated from Gardiner High School in Gardiner, Montana. Malachi worked hard during the school year to maintain a GPA of 3.5 and scored a 1210 on his SAT. Over the summer, he worked as a life guard at a local summer camp to help save up $7,500 for college. Malachi’s parents make a combined income of $80,000. Malachi is excited to go to school in the sunshine (and get away from the snow!) and to become a youth minister in the future.

Total cost for academic year: $24,710
Total aid: $7,875

Cost to student after aid: $16,835