<p>I filled out a fafsa and it gave me an etc over 59k.</p>
<p>Then, I tried some NPCs for schools like Notre Dame and BC and got results like it costs 60k but my net cost would be about 31k.</p>
<p>Both of these were done using the same data as fafsa. No academic data were provided.</p>
<p>So I'm confused. I figured the only way my net price would be below my etc is if there was merit.</p>
<p>How should I interpret these results?</p>
<p>Notre Dame and BC both use the CSS profile to award your institutional aid. The FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for federal aid (PELL, SEOG, Stafford Loands, Federal Work Study, Perkins loans, etc). Based on your FAFSA EFC, you are only eligible for direct loans. THe profile will take a more in-depth look at your finances. </p>
<p>Does your family own a business, real estate or rental property?
Are your parents married to each other?
Are there stepparents
Are there large unreimbursed medical expenses?
Any and all of these things can skew the information on the NPC.</p>
<p>The NPC is clean. The only thing that’s added, I think, is that we have two other kids near college age and 1 of them is at a private school. So, we’re already paying about $20K/yr for that.</p>
<p>Are you a senior in high school or younger?</p>
<p>If your FAFSA EFC is that high, then I would be somewhat skeptical about the NPC results. ND & BC may give some allowance for having a younger child in private school, but I doubt it’s dollar for dollar. The Catholics usually do give some consideration for private K-12, but not the whole amount (and $20k per year for a K-12 would be considered a luxury amount, unless the child has some kind of disability). </p>
<p>Be prepared for actual family contribution to be higher once CSS Profile, etc, is used.</p>
<p>Do your parents contribute to a retirement fund each year? IF so, and that didn’t get calculated into the NPC, that could also be an issue.</p>