This may be a good problem to have, but our EFC is very low, under $1,000 due to a number of financial matters that were unique to 2018. We could afford a higher EFC, but I’m not volunteering . I know things will change in subsequent years and I’ll pay more.
My question - will a low EFC at a school that’s not need-blind result in a negative admission decision for a school trying to manage yield? The schools on our list are mostly state schools:
Penn St. (maybe need blind), Maryland, Indiana, Georgia, Arizona, Miami-Ohio, Clemson. We are out-of-state at all of these.
Our student has a 3.5 GPA, good ECs, recommendations and 1480 SAT.
Not likely. Though there are debates on this issue. Imo, those schools are need blind in admissions. I would call the Admissions Office of each of them and ask if they are need blind for OOSers, as it is possible (I doubt likely, but possible, that they are not)
I think the larger issue is that you are highly unlikely to get full need met at those schools. Not a one of them guarantee to meet full need, even to their own residents . And your kid comes after their own residents There might be merit possibilities for him which along with his federal entitlements that could do him well.
I suggest looking at your state schools and possibilities as well. There might be state entitlements in the picture and your son would be first in line for them as an in stAte resident.
With his stats, and low EFC, he could be eligible for merit within need grants at a number of schools. You might want to look at some of them. There are schools that seek low income high performing students. Ironically, they are often considered Need blind when they do give quarter to such students
I had heard a rumor some years ago that UA asks for PROFILE at times for FAFSA results out of line. I don’t know if they still do this. Might want to ask when you call them.
Make sure that your son has truly affordable schools on his list, once the EFC normalizes. None of these schools are safeties if there is any financial aid contingency attached to them because none of them are likely to meet need for your son.
Thanks. Once the EFC normalizes they will all still be affordable and I think there are definitely merit aid options at a few of them (Miami-Ohio, Indiana, Clemson). I just don’t want the low EFC to block him out - when they see a low EFC but with a family profile that does not match that.
He’s also applying to a few schools with the CSS profile and they cut through some of the clutter to see the real picture. I think the FAFSA is actually too simple in many regards. Thanks again.
Sounds like you’re prepared to be full pay (less any merit) for Years 2 through 4. Just want to caution that your need-based aid for Year 1 may be pretty insignificant.
As the previous posters pointed out, even an extremely low FAFSA EFC at an OOS flagship can mean little or no need-based aid. For example, Penn State or Clemson might give him $5,000 in need-based aid in Year 1 based on that <$1,000 EFC (and then zero need-based aid after). That’s better than nothing, but it’s about 2% of the total cost for four years.
But…they’re OOS publics that don’t give need based aid to OOS students. You’ll be full pay for Penn State and maybe some others (except for small Pell grant for one year). You may get merit at Clemson, Ohio, Miami-O, and Clemson, if stats are high enough.
These are FAFSA only schools, right? Ive never seen a need-aware FAFSA-only school.
Other than $5,500 student loan, maybe work study and $5,000 Pell Grant those OOS schools probably won’t give any aid in year one.
Unless he gets some merit.
Right…and Penn State only gives merit (tiny merit) to their elite honors college students, and UGA largely relies on HOPE for merit (which only goes to instate students), and Clemson has high OOS rates, so any merit just brings it to what OOS should be. Arizona does give merit, as does Ohio (but do you really mean OSU?)
Thanks for all the feedback. I forgot about the net price calcs. and will try those. I was paranoid that regardless of meeting or not meeting the unmet costs that the schools would reject a low EFC to manage yield and their rankings. Maybe that’s more common with the expensive private schools. Just as some people don’t bother to even apply for aid as a possible “hook”.
The schools where a low EFC can be an issue for admissions are the need aware schools. They don’t tend to be the very most selective schools, though, yes they are almost all selective private schools.
Most schools are not need aware in admissions. Most don’t meet full need either. I think you’ll see that the state schools on your list are not going to be piling on the money because your student has high need. They simply gap
Your student will likely get PELL money, subsidized loans and maybe work study. It would be great to get a need grant from the schools as well, but doubtful. As amply said here,getting institutional need money as an OOSer is difficult.
3.5 GPA and 1480 is going to be a challenge for real $$ merit. It should be easy enough to research this aspect. What can you actually afford, that is the real question, fafsa won’t really be that useful when you are looking at OOS publics.
Maybe I’m misreading this…but this OP doesn’t sound concerned about the cost of college and actually says he can afford more than his EFC indicates. And that it was a one year issue,
He is concerned about how this low EFC might affect admissions.
I’m not sure admissions at these schools will have any idea what the family EFC even is.
Apply and wait for the admission results.
And then if the costs are affordable, the student can attend.
Maybe the OP can clarify…but it didn’t sound to me like paying was his issue…he was worried about admissions.
. I know things will change in subsequent years and I’ll pay more.