<p>I just got mine back and its 39,222 (funny number huh?). My family's income fluctuates around 100,000, and it was more this year b/c my dad, an attorney, finished a large case. Anyway, that number sounds reasonable to me. I'm applying to some Ivy schools, and with travel costs for me it'll probably cost ~50,000. I was wondering, b/c my EFC is 39,000, then I will have to pay up to that much automatically? Is there any flexibility in paying less, or could they (please say no) make me pay more? Just how concrete is this number? I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I've read around and found posts about $0 EFCs and $90,000 EFCs but nothing applicable to me. Thank you :)</p>
<p>You could end up paying more, or less. Probably more--</p>
<p>The schools will put together a package that covers most (sometimes all) of the difference between the full Cost of Attendance (tuition, books, fees, room/board, transportation, miscellaneous expenses, sometimes insurance) and the EFC. That package will likely include grants and loans, and sometimes work study.</p>
<p>So what you actually pay depends on the % of grants to loans, whether full need is met or there is a gap, and how accurate the estmates of "soft costs" (transportation, miscellaneous expenses) are.</p>
<p>You will probably end up paying more; very few schools will promise to meet the FAFSA EFC. However, if you have younger siblings attending private schools, you may find that you are paying less -- as some colleges using CSS/Profile will deduct those costs. There are some other areas where costs might be deducted, but I think the private school tuition is the one that is most likely to come into play in terms of getting better than the EFC for need-based aid.</p>
<p>Of course, merit aid is a whole different story.</p>
<p>Is that just your FAFSA EFC or does that include profile that the ivies use? If it's just FAFSA, you'll probably pay more as profile takes home equity into account. If it's both, you'll probably get work study, a loan and a grant for the rest.</p>