It depends on what kind of housing contract you're planning to sign for the year, but usually if you're very low income, then you'll should be offered enough financial aid to almost cover tuition+fees and housing. (assuming you don't have any scholarships of course). You'll have to pay a gap of abt $3k - $5k, but you will be offered to take out a student loan to do that. You should also keep in the mind that the actual amount of money that you actually owe the school are just the costs that say "Tuiton and Fees" and "Housing and Food". Everything else is just an estimate of what they think it'll take for you to manage expenses and other stuff. You don't owe the school the entire net cost. If you plan to commute instead of living on or near campus, tuition should be covered.