<p>What should we say on CSS profile for the question how much can your parents pay for your tuition?</p>
<p>Even if you pick a number lower than your EFC, they arent going to lower your EFC.
I suggest you put the number that your family has discussed as doable, using savings, current income & loans.</p>
<p>Why do they even put this question on the application?</p>
<p>It is always possible that people have resources not readily discernible from the income/asset information provided . . . such as a relative who’s offered to pay $X/year towards the student’s college expenses. For a school that’s need aware, it might then be worthwhile to make clear that you can actually afford to pay quite a bit more than the school would have anticipated.</p>
<p>If you don’t have a rich relative waiting in the wings, answer this question conservatively.</p>