| Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
The major federal and state financial aid programs (i.e., other than certain loans) base their awards on financial need according to a formula established by the U.S. Congress. The formula determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), an amount you and your family are expected to contribute towards your education. If your EFC is below a set amount, you'll be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and very likely a State TAP award as well.
You can estimate the amount you or your family is expected to contribute towards your education (EFC) by accessing FINAID and calculating your own EFC.
There is no maximum EFC that defines eligibility for financial aid programs. Instead, your EFC is used in an equation to determine your financial need:
Cost of Attendance
- Expected Family Contribution
= Financial Need
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Role of the FinanciaL Aid Office
Your Financial Aid Office calculates your cost of attendance and subtracts the amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward that cost. If there is anything left over, you are considered to have financial need. In determining your need for aid, your financial aid administrator must first consider other aid you're expected to receive.
The Financial Aid Office puts together a financial aid package that comes as close as possible to meeting your need. However, because funds are limited, the amount awarded to you may fall short of the amount for which you are eligible.
The Financial Aid Office can make adjustments to the cost of education or expected family contribution based on documentation of adverse circumstance that affect the family's ability to contribute towards their child's education. Examples of such circumstances include long term unemployment by a family member, death or disability.
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