<p>I understand that there is an online formula for computing the EFC, but that is not why I am here.</p>
<p>Okay so originally with an AGI of $189,000 our EFC was at $66,000. Then when I realized I did the wrong year (counselor said to do 2008-2009, not the correct one of 2009-2010) I had to wait until a few weeks ago to file the new FAFSA. Our AGI went up to around $238,000 and our EFC jumped up to $99,999.99 - Does this sound right? I know that once you hit that 'magic' $180K you're kind of screwed with financial aid BUT $99K?</p>
<p>I'm just looking for opinions here, that is all. </p>
<p>Thank you! :)</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t see how it matters. If your EFC is > COA then you’re not getting any aid. 66k is more than any COA I know of so what does it matter if your EFC is $1 more or 20k more than COA. Make sense?</p>
<p>They use $99,999.99 when your calculated EFC is over 100K. No need to really nitpick at that level, ya know?</p>
<p>That puts your family in the top 1 or 2% of incomes in the US. Congrats. I’d focus on schools that offer merit aid. And your taxes will help others, who have need, go to college.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter if your efc is 66,000 or 99,000.
Above the cost of the school your kid wants to attend, it doesn’t matter.<br>
Still, fill out the forms because some schools require that for merit (based on grades) money, but you won’t meet the criteia for “need-based” aid.</p>
<p>Once unprotected income goes over a certain (not very high) amount then 47% of it goes to the EFC. So 99,999 is not surprising at all at your income level. As sblake said - 99,999 is the top EFC.</p>