What is an average EFC?

As of 2023, the average EFC for a four-year undergraduate student was around $14,000 per academic year. However, there are some high EFCs skewing the average because more than half of college students have EFCs at or below $2,500.

What is a typical EFC number?

Applicants whose EFC is less than 90% of the maximum Federal Pell Grant will receive a Federal Pell Grant. Applicants with a zero EFC will receive the maximum Federal Pell Grant. The average EFC among Federal Pell Grant recipients is about $700.

What does an EFC of $50000 mean?

An Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $50,000 means that the family is expected to contribute $50,000 toward the student's education expenses for the academic year.

Is an EFC of 4000 good?

So, a lower EFC is more beneficial. For a student with the average American household AGI of $50,000, their EFC typically ranges from $3,000-$4,000. Very wealthy families may receive an EFC that is greater than the cost of an expensive private university.

What is the EFC for 100k income?

The basic theory is that the lower your EFC, the bigger your financial aid award. A family with an adjusted income of $50,000 and two dependents would expect to have an EFC of around $3,800 without considering any other financial assets. A family with income of $100,000, would have an EFC of approximately $20,000.

What is an average EFC?

What is a good EFC to get financial aid?

Once your FAFSA form is received, the schools arrive at a number between 0 and 4617 that will result in a federal student aid grant for the following academic year. Any person with an EFC number at 0 will receive the maximum amount of student aid, while a number over 5273 will result in no aid at all.

What is the highest EFC possible?

Use of the expected family contribution

Generally speaking, the lower the EFC, the higher the financial aid award will be. Zero is the lowest EFC number (indicating that the family cannot afford to pay anything) and 999,999 is the highest.

Why is my EFC on FAFSA so high?

EFC is based on the parents' and student's income and assets. A high EFC is likely the result of high income or a high value of assets as reported on the FAFSA. Assets considered include bank account balances, capital gains and, sometimes, equity held in businesses and real estate.

How do I reduce my FAFSA EFC?

Parental income is the largest contributing factor in EFC calculation. If possible, defer any workplace bonuses or avoid exercising stock options. If you have an investment that's losing money, consider selling it. The capital loss will factor into your adjusted gross income and could lower your EFC.

What is the average EFC for 50k income?

An Expected Family Contribution is a dollar figure that represents what financial aid formulas believe a family should be able to pay for one year of a child's college education. No. 2: The EFC for the average American household with an AGI of $50,000 will usually range from $3,000 to $4,000.

What happens if my parents won't pay my EFC?

If your parents or guardians refuse to pay for college, your best options may be to file the FAFSA as an independent. Independent filers are not required to include information about their parents' income or assets. As a result, your EFC will be very low and you will probably get a generous financial aid offer.

What if I think my EFC is wrong?

It's possible mistakes can be made, or your circumstances have changed since you filled out your FAFSA. If you believe that a college has calculated your EFC incorrectly, contact the financial aid office. Financial aid officers will explain how they determined your EFC and discuss your options.

How do I pay for college if my EFC is too 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.

How is EFC calculated 2023?

The formula considers your family's taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as, unemployment or Social Security). The formula also considers your family size and the number of family members who will attend college during the year. We use the information you report on your FAFSA form to calculate your EFC.

What does an EFC of $20 000 mean?

An Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $20,000 on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) means that the federal government has determined that your family is expected to contribute up to $20,000 towards your college education for the upcoming academic year.

Should my EFC be high or low?

In general, you should receive a more substantial financial aid package with a low EFC, whereas a high EFC means you might need to resort to unsubsidized or private student loans to cover costs your family can't afford. If you're a dependent student and your family's income is below $24,000, your EFC will likely be $0.

Is EFC the amount I have to pay?

The total cost─which includes tuition, fees, housing and meal plan, and indirect expenses─minus your EFC is how much financial aid they estimate you'll need to attend the college.

What is the lowest EFC on FAFSA?

Your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, on the FAFSA, is a simple way of saying that you have a certain income threshold based on your parents financial contribution. Zero is the lowest EFC number with 99,999 as the highest.

How accurate is the EFC on FAFSA?

Your EFC result won't be as accurate, but it should be in the ballpark. The purpose of the EFC Calculator is to give you a general sense of your eligibility for financial aid to help you understand how much college may cost you.

What does EFC of 4000 mean?

Your EFC is a dollar amount. If your EFC was 4,000 and your college costs are estimated to be only $4,000, you would not be eligible for any need-based aid. Your EFC is one factor that determines how much federal aid you are eligible for, although it is not necessarily how much you will receive.

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

The federal government and schools typically provide financial assistance only when families cannot pay. Students can sometimes reduce their high EFC by submitting a FAFSA appeal. Some students can qualify as independent and access financial aid without their parents' involvement.

What does EFC of 10000 mean?

If by “EFC” you mean the one calculated from FAFSA, it is used to calculate Pell grant amounts; if your FAFSA EFC is below the maximum Pell grant amount, you get a Pell grant of the maximum Pell grant amount minus the FAFSA EFC. $10,000 is higher than the maximum Pell grant amount, so no Pell grant.

What if my EFC is 5000?

» LEARN: How much financial aid can I get? Say, for example, a school's total cost of attendance is $20,000 and your EFC is $5,000. You could qualify for up to $15,000 of need-based aid through programs like federal Pell Grants, direct subsidized loans and work-study.

What percent of income should EFC be?

The formula allocates 50 percent of a dependent student's adjusted available income to cover college expenses and anywhere from 22 to 47 percent of parents' available income. The higher your parents' income is, the more of it will count towards your EFC.

Will I have to pay more than my EFC for college?

The EFC caused confusion for years, experts say, because many families believed the calculation was the amount they were required to pay for college. However, that wasn't true. Colleges determine financial need by subtracting the student's EFC, now the SAI, from the total cost of attendance.