What does my EFC code mean?

EFC stands for Expected Family Contribution. The EFC code number you receive after you complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Aid) is the amount your family is expected to contribute for one year (the school year to which the FAFSA applies).

Why is my EFC so high?

If your family has accumulated wealth and investments, your EFC can be high, even if your family’s income is low. This includes checking and savings accounts, bonds and stocks, and even the student’s 529 College Savings Plan. Some kinds of financial assets do not count toward your EFC.

What does an EFC of 18000 mean?

If your financial need is $18,000, one college may offer you $16,000 in grants and a $2,000 loan, while another college may offer you a $5,000 grant and $13,000 in loans. Both colleges are offering you a financial aid package of $18,000, but you will pay more out of your pocket at the college that awards more loan aid.

What does EFC of $20000 mean?

Cost of Attendance (COA) – Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need. For example, 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.

What EFC qualifies for Pell Grant?

$5,846
Income Limit 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 $20000 mean?

If you have an EFC of $20,000, the college meets 70% of financial need, this leaves you with 30% of unmet need (Example, total cost $40,000 less EFC equals financial need of $20,000 times 30% unmet need $6,000. So your theoretical out of pocket costs would be your EFC $20,000 plus unmet need of $6,000 equals $26,000.