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 lower my EFC on FAFSA?

Reduce family income

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 do I do if my EFC is too high?

You may need to start an appeal process — called professional judgment — to have your EFC and financial aid adjusted if you've already received a financial aid package. Begin by reaching out to your financial aid advisor, who can assist you with the next steps.

What is a good EFC number for FAFSA?

The overall average EFC is about $10,000, with an average of about $6,000 for students at community colleges and $14,000 at 4-year colleges. Slightly more than half of students have an EFC of $2,500 or less.

What does an EFC of 7000 mean?

This shows that you're eligible for $7,000 in need-based aid. EFC also affects your eligibility and award amounts for federal need-based aid programs.

Why is my Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA so high?

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.

How do I get my EFC to zero?

The FAFSA assigns an auto-zero EFC to students who report $27,000 or less in income. Eligible applicants are not expected to contribute financially to their college expenses.

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.

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.

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.

Can I dispute my EFC?

A financial aid appeal can either go two ways: it can be denied or approved. If an appeal is approved, the financial aid administrator will make changes on the student's FAFSA. From there, a new EFC will be generated, which will result in a new financial aid package.

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.

Is EFC the amount I have to pay?

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.

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.

Does FAFSA check your parents bank accounts?

Students selected for verification of their FAFSA form may wonder, “Does FAFSA check your bank accounts?” FAFSA does not directly view the student's or parent's bank accounts.

What is a bad EFC number?

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.

Do you want a high EFC?

College financial aid offices use the EFC to estimate how much financial aid the school will offer to enrollees. Students with low EFC receive the most student aid. Learners with high EFC receive less aid. Applicants with family incomes below $26,000 qualify for an automatic zero EFC and maximum federal funding.

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.

What does an EFC of 14000 mean?

An EFC score of 014000 means your family is expected to contribute $14,000 toward one year of your education.

Is a EFC of 00000 good?

Basic formula, total cost of attendance minus your EFC number equals your family financial need. When your score is o0000 colleges consider your financial aid need “exceptional” and often times use the term “full-need student” (not to be confused with “need met” by each college explained below).

What happens when your EFC is 00000?

According to the Federal Student Aid Office (FSA), students who qualify as having 0 EFC are eligible to receive all types of need-based aid to pay for their education as their families are unable to financially contribute.

How much money can I get from FAFSA if my EFC is 0?

However, students with a zero EFC may qualify for the maximum federal Pell Grant, which is $7,395 for the 2023–2024 award year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024). To qualify for a zero EFC on the 2023-2024 FAFSA, a family with dependent students can't make more than $29,000 annually.

Is an EFC of 4000 good?

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 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.

Why do I have an EFC if I'm independent?

Formula B—Independent Student Without Dependents Other Than A Spouse. The EFC for an independent student without dependents other than a spouse is calculated using FAFSA data for the student and spouse. The CPS calculates a contribution from available income and a contribution from assets.