Often asked: How Does The Efc Affect Financial Aid?

Your EFC is an index number that college financial aid staff use to determine how much financial aid you would receive if you were to attend their school. Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive.

What EFC qualifies for financial aid?

Families should also keep in mind that those with an EFC of 5576 or lower are eligible for Pell Grants for the 2019-2020 award year, according to the Department of Education. The Pell Grant helps students from low-income households pay for college and is the largest federal grant program available to undergraduates.

Can I still get financial aid if my EFC is high?

Even if you have a high EFC, it still makes sense to fill out the FAFSA. Your EFC might be high enough to disqualify you from need-based aid, like grants, but you might still be able to get federal work-study or get federal student and parent loans. Government need-based grants aren’t the only forms of financial aid.

How does the EFC affect student aid?

When it’s put on paper, your EFC is a simple dollar figure. A low EFC means you may be eligible for a larger financial aid package, while a high EFC means you may have to rely on unsubsidized loans to cover any costs your family can’t afford. Behind the scenes, the EFC you receive is based on a complicated formula.

What is the maximum EFC to get financial aid?

On December 27, 2020, the President signed Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 which included a $150 increase to the maximum Pell Grant. The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2021-2022 award year is $6,495, and the corresponding maximum Pell Grant eligible expected family contribution (EFC) is 5846.

What does an EFC of 50000 mean?

Here’s how: under the formula, the EFC is for the total family contribution, not per child. Even with an EFC as high as $100,000 (from income of about $200,000), after a 50/50 split the EFC is $50,000 for each child, less than the average cost of many elite schools.

Can I get financial aid if I make over 100k?

4 answers. None of the above for qualifying for Federal Aid. It’s 60,000 tops in most cases. It’s very rare anyone’s family making over $60,000 would qualify for a Pell Grant.

Is an EFC of 10000 good?

In a perfect world, all schools would meet 100% of a family’s financial need. So, if your EFC was $10,000 – no matter where you attend – you would know you wouldn’t pay more than $10,000 each year. Most schools do not meet 100% of financial need for all of their students.

What does an EFC of 12000 mean?

For example, 12000 is $12,000. This means that the federal government (and colleges) expect your family to be able to reasonably contribute $12,000 per year towards your college expenses. That said, the EFC number is not the definitive amount your family must pay for school. Rather, the number is a starting point.

What does an EFC of 20000 mean?

EFC Determines Your Financial Need So if the total COA (Tuition & fees, Room and Board, Books, Supplies, etc) at a particular school was $50,000, and the family’s EFC from the FAFSA was $30,000, they would have $20,000 of financial need. This does not mean you will receive a financial aid package totaling $20,000.

What EFC qualifies for Pell Grant?

The Department of Education will use your family’s income and expenses to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). To be eligible for the Pell Grant for the 2021-2022 academic year, your EFC needs to be at or below $5,846. Because of this, there is no set income cutoff for Pell Grant eligibility.

What does an EFC of 7000 mean?

Understanding Your EFC This number is the amount of money that you and your parents can afford to pay towards college. For example, if your EFC is $7,000 and the total cost of attendance for a particular college is $28,000, your total financial need would be $21,000.

How do I lower my fafsa EFC?

Legal Ways to Reduce Your Expected Family Contribution

1. Maximize Household Size. The larger your household size is, the lower your EFC will be (in most cases).
2. Increase College Attendance Among Family Members.
3. Wait Until the FAFSA Considers You Independent.

Will I get financial aid if my parents make over 100k?

First things first, there is no income limit when it comes to the FAFSA. Everyone should apply for financial aid, no matter your or your parents’ income.

What is the income limit for FAFSA 2021 2022?

Previously, the income threshold for an automatic $0 EFC was $26,000. Meaning that if a family earned an income lower than $26,000, they weren’t expected to pay anything out of pocket and would qualify for more financial aid. For the 2021–2022 school year, the FAFSA has increased that threshold to $27,000.

Does FAFSA really check bank accounts?

Does FAFSA Check Your Bank Accounts? FAFSA doesn’t check anything, because it’s a form. However, the form does require you to complete some information about your assets, including checking and savings accounts.