EFC

My sons EFC is 00579. What does that mean?

Your Expected Family Contribution is $579. You may receive Pell Grant, subsidized Direct Loans, and other Federal Aid for for you to attend school.

Your EFC is 579, but that doesn’t mean that is all that colleges would expect you to pay. The term is misleading. That is a federal calculation, but doesn’t mean that to colleges. Colleges aren’t obligated to provide the rest of the money, since most colleges don’t have the money.

The EFC means that your child will get about $5k in a federal grant. He would also qualify for a $5500 loan. Obviously that is not enough to pay for most schools.