When filing the FAFSA, my estimated EFC was 004575. This means that my family is expected to pay 4575 in tuition… right?
On the CSS Profile, there is a question that asks about the estimated amount that the parents will contribute to their student’s education. My family does not know what to put or whether we should go higher than 4500 or lower than 4500. Any tips? I’ll be sending this in to U of Michigan as an in-state student by the way.
That fAFSA EFC is the MINIMUM you will be expected to pay.
I gather UM is University of Michigan. Please don’t use abbreviations in the future.
If you are applying to a Profile school, just answer the question honestly. Put what your family CAN pay annually.
omg my fault for not specifying what I meant by U of M. I meant University of Michigan which I will be an instate student in!!
@thumper1
they dont really know… thats my problem w that. if admitted id also be getting all of my tuition covered (but not room+board) so i do not know what to put. should I estimate somewhere around my EFC?
Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Not sure why that question is even there.
Did you do the net price calculator for Michigan? What was your net cost on that? Maybe that number would be a good choice.
I thought Michigan met full need for all accepted instate students. That would include room and board if your need was low enough. I think. @kelsmom migh know
What was your net cost on the net price calculator!
University of Michigan does meet full need for in state students. They use Profile, which might result in a different EFC for institutional aid than the FAFSA EFC. If you have done the NPC, you should have a good idea of the aid UM would offer you. Your aid determination will have an expectation of student earnings from work, and it will include loans. UM does have really good aid for lower income students: https://goblueguarantee.umich.edu/. Note that the promise is for tuition.
As for the question on the Profile about how much your parents can pay, just ask them to give a best guess. In all honesty, it doesn’t matter, because the school won’t use it in awarding aid.
@kelsmom the Promise guarantees full tuition for low income students.
But if this school meets full need, doesn’t that need include the full cost of attendance including room, board and fees? This student thinks she is getting tuition only…and maybe with her income she will. But with a $4500 FAFSA EFC, if her finances are comparable on the Profile, wouldn’t need based aid also be offered for at least a portion of the rest of the cost if attendance (including room board and fees)?
Here is the information - Go Blue Guarantee Eligibility | Financial Aid | University of Michigan. It says tuition/fees covered by free money (grants/scholarships) for income less than $65,000 and tuition support for some students whose families earn more (outlined in link). Of course, federal loans would be available to assist with housing costs.
I don’t recall for sure if it ever included housing. I feel like at one time, there was a level of support that did, for the neediest students. But I am not sure … and I am not certain that there no longer is. The OP can contact the aid office at UM to find out. They are well staffed and are very professional.
Can you clarify whether University of Michigan meets full need for all instate students? Including cost for room and board if need is such that this would be included?
My understanding is only tuition plus some other fees. Housing is not included. But… With this being a covid year… Ask for a discount or housing adjustment. It is easy (in normal times) to get work study or any school job at Michigan. Also look at the 15 co-op housing. It’s pretty affordable and includes dinner. Usually they get like different cereals for breakfast and leftovers for lunch. It’s all inclusive of utilities etc. They are some of the best deals on campus and start and end with the school year. All but one is on Central Campus. The one on North campus has a chef (yes, the foods good)
Also… $65,000 max income with $max 50,000 assets.
For full need : The university’s generous need-based financial aid program includes all in-state students with financial need and typically includes Michigan families earning up to about $125,000 a year or more, depending on specific circumstances.
It’s $90,000 for out of state students BTW.
Both are based on individual circumstances. They have been good giving more aid for covid issues like loss of income etc. Parents have to prove they need the aid.
@Knowsstuff @kelsmom @thumper1
The scholarship I was offered only covers my tuition! It’s not the Go Blue Guarantee exactly but similar to it (basically this scholarship is just already guaranteed 4 years of free tuition whereas the GBG isn’t as it is dependent on your financial situation each year). they both don’t include housing though so i hope to get assistance w that thru fafsa and css profile. but what i put down for my estimated parent contribution won’t really matter into the aid i receive, right? i feel as if my family and i are overthinking it lol
Sorry…but is this for fall 2021? Acceptances are not out for a bit. Or did you defer and this was your award. You need to put down what the real numbers are. You can’ t just fudge the numbers. Call Financial aid and they will help you with any questions. They are there to help you and they want you to get what your family deserves. Again, put it out there that your family needs help with housing and see what they got. I am sure if they can help close the gap they will.
yea its for fall 2021 and ok thank u
@Knowsstuff fudge the numbers? Some people put $0 in this field. Some put their FAFSA EFC. Some put the net cost from the net price calculator. Some just pick a number out of thin air because it’s what they “think” they might be able to pay.
This number is not used in the need based financial aid financial aid calculations.
Just put a realistic number and then forget about this field.
thanks! the numbers i had for everything else were accurate b/c they’re on documentation obviously lol thank you for ur help!
Some colleges may do the following:
- Calculate parent contribution and FA the usual way.
- If the answer to the “how much will parents pay?” question is higher than the calculated parent contribution, use the answer instead to calculate FA.
In that context, it would make sense to run the net price calculator on every CSS Profile school and answer the “how much will parents pay?” question with a number no higher than the lowest parent contribution given by any of them.
However, there may be other ways that colleges could use that. For example, if the admitted student is particularly desirable, but lists a parent contribution slightly lower than what the college’s FA office calculates, the college may choose to bridge that gap with a small merit scholarship or preferentially packaged FA. The college may not do that for comparably desirable admits who say that their parents are willing to pay a parent contribution higher than what the college’s FA office calculates, or those who say that their parent contribution is too far below what the college’s FA office calculates.