My efc is 2812 is that a good number
$2812 EFC? Is that a good number for what?
With that EFC, you will get about $3200 in Pell Grant money and a $5500 Direct Loan as a first year college student. Those are the only guarantees. Some schools also give SEOG money and federal work study to low income students (not sure how WS will work if classes are all online in the fall).
Are you a current HS student?
When will you start college?
Where are you planning to apply or attend?
Is this EFC number from a completed FAFSA SAR? Or is it from some other source.
Have you used the net price calculators for your college(s)?
How much can your family spend annually to pay for college.
It’s a start. It means that that the federal government expects your family to pay at very least $2812 towards your college costs. It can mean that you get little or no money if COA, day at your local Community college is less than that, because you are expected to contribute that to the costs.
It is also no guarantee of getting your need met. It gives you eligibility, as described above for PELL and federal loans as well as state programs when the Cost Of Attendance is more than that amount. But I know of no school that absolutely guarantees to meet need as defined by FAFSA EFC
University of Chicago does. There is a very short Chicago financial aid form, but their need based aid really is based on the FAFSA EFC.
But…you gotta get accepted…and that isn’t any guarantee.